The San Francisco call., 1898-07-08
ELI S. DENISON, Ex-Senator of Alameda
 County, Who Passed Away Yesterday.

afternoon at his home in West Oakland after a protracted illness of several weeks. For many days past his condition has remained unchanged, and but little hope was held out for his ultimate re- covery. This afternoon, without any par ticular change, he quietly passed away.
 Wherever trains run on the Pacific Coast Eli Denison was known. His ac- quaintanceship with California and it's people has grown with the spreading of the Southern Pacific Railway. Senator Denison and the railroad are terms which always seem to go together and by his perseverance, activity and business ability he built up an enormous business on the system, which had made him rich, and which is now so vast that it is believed he has paid to the railroad company s25 900 for his privileges for the current year.
 Next to being known railroad news agent, Eli Denison has figured most prom inently as a Republican. Since taking an active part in politics in 1884, when he went to the National Convention as a del- egate, he has never swerved particle to the right or to the left, but has been a persistent adherent of Republican prin- ciples.
 in 1890 he was elected to the State Sen- ate, and has succeeded himself ever since, although he caused 1t to be known several months ago that he could not be a can didate at the coming election. AS a poll tician every one in Alameda County knows that Eli Denison was generous to fault. On every occasion when funds were required for conducting party cam paign he could be depended upon for gen. erous support. He was decidedly popular, and although, on account of his business, the anti-railroad element regarded him as an enemy, it was never able to hurt his political record.
 The deceased Senator came from Onon- daga County, New York, where he was born in August seventy-one years ago. At the early age of 13 he left his fathers himself. His first railroad employment was on the New York Central, and after a little experience there he went to Nica- ragua in 1849 as foreman of gang en- gagged in constructing thirteen miles of plank road between Lake Nicaragua and San Juan.
 Mining on the Feather River in Califor- nia and at other different points occupied his time until 1859, in which year he went to work as baggageman on the Sacramento Valley Railroad. Mining again occupied him in 1862, when he went to Virginia City to develop quartz mine. A little later he was employed by the Central Pacific, his run being from Sacramento to the end of the road eastward This run naturally increased as the building of the read progressed, and he was one of the spectators on May 12. 1S69 who wit messed the driving of the golden spike that united the Central and Union Pa cifc.
 CT June 1. 1869, MT. Denison took the pcSitjor of news agent for the railroad, and for twenty-nine years he has stead fly followed that business. Every trav- eler in California is acquainted with the extent of the business MT. Denison built up from the beginning. In 1890, with three other ce epitalists, he bought out the little Laundry Farm Railroad, which was more recently acquired by the Realty Syndi-