The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-05-17
HUNTINGTON TO
SENATOR BOYCE
Magnate Replies to the
Legislator.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

SANTA BARBARA, May Ex-senator
John ]. Boyce to-day received the follow
ing rather caustic reply from c. P. Hunt
ington to the open letter of Senator Boyce
to Mr.. Huntingdon:
Southern Pacific Company. Offices of the Presi-
dent, Union Trust Building.
SAN FRANCISCO. Cal. May Il, 1899.
Hon John ]. BOyce, Santa Barbara, Cal
Dear Sir: Your letter Of the 10th, with several
Enclosures, one of them being a printed copy
OF your open letter TO me which appeared in
the Santa Barbara Morning Press of Tuesday
May g. is received and its contents are noted
1t really requires little reply, further than TO
say that you need not be afraid that l shall
hold any of your fellow citizens responsible Tor
the expressions or insinuations contained in
YOUR open letter referred to, for l do not believe
your published letter reflects their sentiments
to the work done to be done on the gap
between Ellwood and surf l am inclined not not
own utterance. for IL is somewhat evident to
me that in this case you spoke before you
to pass a hasty and unjust Judgment on me
and my motives is already regretted. sin
cerely hope that 1t Is So but whether IL Is
or not matters little to me or to the citizens
of Santa Barbara.
l have no doubt whatever that in this matter
of railroad construction your townspeople be-
lieve me when 1 say that l am DESTROYS of
closing the gap between Surf and Ellwood just
as soon as 1t can be economically done l have
never made and am not making any preten-
sions that we are doing this work simply for
tbe GOOD Of the citizens of Santa Barbara or
those living along the line of the proposed road
without regard to the effect of the railroad
owners for we build and operate railroads as
a matter of business, basing our action on our
best judgment to the probable financial out
come of the work, sometimes being fully aware
that we cannot expect for several years to get
much perhaps not any, return for our invest
ment but nevertheless satisfied and confident
that the time will come when the Investment
will prove a paying one, and therefore We
willing to wait for money At the same
time we do not lose sight of the fact that the
improvements we make are found far more
to the aggregate benefit Of all those whose
property is immensely enhanced in value
through the facilities we give them than to
our own, and we do not hesitate to say so.
because it is the fact. 1 am glad that 1T is
so, although perhaps Senator Boyce may not
conceive the possibility of such sentiment
existing in the mind of a railroad owner.
Finally let me repeat again, that we are
ready to complete this gap as soon as it can
be well and economically done. but we do not.
of course. propose to go ahead blindly. with
out knowing definitely what we are to ex
pect with reference to the rights of way not
yet secured. In the work of clearing up such
doubtful questions. | and my associates are
ready to cooperate fully and fairly with the
people of Santa Barbara and others interested
alike with them; and | glad to be able to
heartily on their part for have no fault
TO find with the people of Santa Barbara,
whose attitude toward us has always, been fair
and friendly.
ton with respect to these rights of way, I
would refer you to Mr.. Ivison to Ellwood
Cooper, TO whom l have written and who would
no doubt be glad to let you see my letters.
Yours truly, c. P. HUNTINGTON.
Senator Boyce replied tonight as fol-
lows to Mr.. Huntington's letter:
SANTA BARBARA, May 16
Hon. Coils p. Huntington President South
Pacific Railroad Company, Union Trust
Building. San Francisco, Calmly Dear Sir: