The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-08-15


Increased his weight and bodily wgor
His mental equipment was as complete
as his physical. Although like many
hard WORKING boys in New England, his
school days had been limited 70 about
four months In the year. he nad studiea
hard and developed an exceeding fond
ness for geography. history and math-
ernatics. He studied history with the
man OF the country before him. ana
gave particular attention to the innu-
ences which operated in the Development
Of nations and opening of avenues OF
communication and lines OF commerce.
His tourneyings through the southern
States In connection with some OF ms
earlier business enterprises had gwen
an opportunfty for experimenting MS
geographical and historical study with
personal observations of that region, Its
resources and commercial possibilities,
ali OF which bore rich fruitage IN later
wears. when his attention became direct
ed to the Industrial development OF the
South and West Mr.. Huntington select
ed Sacramento as the base or MS opera
tions, because he had no fancy LOT min,
opportunities for trade In supplies woulu
inevitably follow the rapid extension OF
mining operations, and he recognizeo
In Sacramento the. natural distripuuhs
point for that whole region. He had
marked faculty for trading and possessed
n discrimination that was an almost un-
conscious Intuition In measuring supply
and demand. and In that era OF WIZ !
speculation and reckless expenditure IL
served as an unerring guide TO prosper
fty OF still greater value, perhaps, We're
the habits OF absolute probity In business
whIci were the heritage q his New Eng
lie began business life in sacramento
under his own name, but subsequently
established the hardware house OF Huni-
ington & Hopkins. Mr. Huntingtoh
- 81 80 ~ trader NlfDDtf-
Inented by the conditions which prseatied
on the Coast at that time. ana IN seven
years the firm mad accumulated for
tune.
Transcontinental Railroad scheme.
Mr.. HuntinEton's part in the building OF
the first tranacontinentai railroad If one
OF the most interesting chapters In the
story OF his life. The growing necessity
OF such an avenue OF communication was
constantly before his eyes. and he real
ICED more, perhaps. than any other per-
son, the tremendous advantages that
would accrue to the Pacific states from
the completion OF such an enterprise.
Few, even OF those who. had carefully
studied the problem, had faith in the
practicability OF carrying n railway line
across the Sierras. even were the capital
at hand to make the attempt; but one
day Leland stanford. when passing Mr,
twenty-mule wagon pulling out with
load Of supplies for the Comstock mines
at Virginia City, and passing into Mr..
Han, h,,n office ne proposed 70 MN
mento to the mines OF Nevada; and
which might some time be extended to
connect with the railways that were be-
Ing pushed westward from the Atlantic
ford's house that evening resulted In a
determination to undertake the gigantic
enterprise. A persistent diplomatic en-
deavor for government aid was begun.
.pR n In
and Oregon was secured. convention
was held IN San Francisco, and a monster
petition was sent TO the congress OF the
United States. Delay and discourage
mcnt cnsucd with the breaking out OF
the civil war. for the San Francisco cap
italists being mostly southern rympa-
thizers withdrew their support for the
time. Confident In the final succe0 OF
his undertaking. MIR. Huntington secured
the cooperation OF six of his neighhors
in sacramento. and they agreed with each
other TO make at their own expense pre-
liminary survey across the mountains
In 1851 they organized the Central Pacific
Railroad Company. with $500 900 Capital
and MIR. Huntington undertook 20 secure
government aid In Its construction, His
telegram to his associates announcing the
success of his negotiations ~ worthy of
record as showing the serious view he
took OF the enterprise. I'VE have drawn
the elephant, now let sis see II we can
harness him up"
In view OF the universal disbelief In the
Feasibility OF his undertaking, his eour-
age and persistence and powers OF per-
suaston prevailed. and he secured n st,ffi-
Client financial support in New York and
BOSTON 10 carry on tho work.
The nnxieties and difficulties incident "a
50 great an enterprise were augmented by
the construction race which was being
contested with the Union Pacific railway
and BY increasing tho cost OF labor and
supplies. al OF which had to be paid Tor
In gold cnin-~fhen az a high premium
Ereatly added 10 the perplcxities ~ the
situation. But Mr.. Huntington Apa MS
associates were rich In mental and phys-
teal resources and successfully overranc
al obstacles TO the completion OF the road
After the completion % the Central IA :
cinc, Mr. Huntington and three associates
created and built the Southern parifs,
railroad, and during its construction
aaain raced across tho continent, this time
WIN me iekas fscinc In connection with
this enterprise, Mr. Huntington secured
control ~ Eastern connections by land
and sea, and In 1884 ORGANIZED the SOM n
ern FRcinc Company OF Kentucky which
unihcs IN operation sNstem Of transport
alton consisting % twenty sis railway ana
steamship lines, comprislng 4 ssS miles ~
railway IN the United states ard Mexteo
AID 1870 miles Of steamship lines Mr.
Huntington was president ~ the Southern
Pacific company, and also % the Gsate-
mala Central railroad. one % the best
constructed and equipped railroads In the
central American states ffe IL 4is, rre...
ident ~ the Pacific Man Steamship t'an,-
pany and owns az Newport News va
onr % the largest and best appointed dry.
docks ana shiphulldiuS yards IN the Tinted
states
SIR Huntlngton hAa given much though,
20 the rapid transit problem IN New YNrk
and ~ one time was very near Is a prar,
teal 0tteufrf az its solution.