The record-union., 1899-02-26
WHAT HE HAS DONE FOR CALL
FORNIA-

From the earliest settlement of this
State it's people entertained the one
strong desire to be connected by rail
with the Atlantic seaboard. The ac-
complishment of this result appeared to
be hypothetical In fact, it was not be-
1ieved to be practicable from the stand
point of private enterprise 1t is diff
ficult to realize, after the construction
of six or seven transcontinental rail-
roads, the magnitude of the obstacles
as they appeared to those who con-
fronted and overcame them at the time
the construction of the first over
land railroad was inaugurated-
The world had not had experience of
undertakings so vast. The largest sum
of money ever organized for the prose-
cution of any enterprise up to that
time was employed in the construction
of the first overland railroad.
A small group of Sacramento mar
chants essayed the task of constructing
the western, and by far the most diff
cult section of the road, and the most
stupendous difficulty to be encountered
was the crossing of the Sierra Nevada
Mountains. This difficulty lay at the
very threshold of the undertaking.
There were no long lines of road to be
constructed and operated before this
greatest difficulty was encountered. Be
fore it engineering science hesitated in
doubt and dismay, but at last an in
nounced in favor of the practieability
of the undertaking. But his report did
not remove the doubt from the minds
of the financial world. A Government
subsidy was offered and accepted. and,
but for this subsidy, the capital for the
enterprise could not have been OBJ
tanned.
Sacratmentans whose names are in
separately connected with the inaug-
uration and successful completion
of that great undertaking sought
the encouragement and assistance
of the merchants, bankers and cap
italists of the coast, but they were
met with repulse, and even re-
buke- Local patriotism and enter
prise subscribed in timid way for
small blocks of the stock, but the sub
scribers stood ready to dispose of them
at the valuation of what they had cost,
rather than incur the ultimate risk of
the completion and operation of the
road.
The four Sacramentans to whose en-
ergy and foresight we owe the compile
tion of this first overland railroad were
c. P. Huntington, Leland Stanford
Charles Croker and Mark Hopkins.
Long prior to the maturity of the finan-
cial obligations incurred by the con-
struction of the road, all save Mr.. C. P.
Huntington had passed away, and yet
all lived to an advanced age.
The one survivor of the members Of
the partnership in the enterprise has
recently rounded the full period of the
undertaking by concluding a settlement
with the Government Of the United
States by which the Treasury will be
reimbursed for all that has been ex-
pended by the Government itself in the
loaned to- the Sacramento merchants,
which constituted the base of their sue
cessful enterprise, is returned to the
Treasury of the nation, dollar. for dol
LOS Ont R1r nv, H.
period which has elapsed since the first
shoyelful of earth was thrown to within
the past few days the public has enter
tanned the belief that the Central Pa
ciac Railroad Company would not pay
its debt to the Government.
Leland Stanford, Charles Croker
and Mark Hopkins died before this
final indication Of the honesty of their
purpose had been achieved, but c. p.
Huntington, their survivor, has been
true to their memories, and true to his
own personal record as an American
citizen, by bringing to shame and false
hood every prediction which constituted
an Impeachment of the honesty of their
intention To-day the Government
stands reimbursed and the time is not
inappropriate for a brief consideration
of what these men wrought on behalf
of California.
Railroad connection with the East by
the Central and Union Pacific brought
the State of California into close touch
With the great body of American civili-
zation on the Atlantic seaboard. 1t
brought our State within the profitable
area of production relating to the ca
pacities Of its soils and climate. 1t
created B. market for the resources
which otherwise would have remained
undeveloped to the present day.
Through the Industrial and CONNER
cial development thus evolved, other
roads We're attracted, until to-day the
shores of the Pacific are connected with
the shores of the Atlantic by eight
transcontinental lines, while still others
are pushing this way.
Mr.. Huntington and his associates
brought to the State of California the
sum of S150O00,O00, which has been
faithfully and economically invested in
ats development. They gave to the
State a system of transportation far
in advance Of its development Long
branch lines were constructed by them
far in anticipation of demand for
their transportation capacities.
They were Californians and gave to