Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-08-14

some 1udfcious trading, and when ready to
renew the trip westward his capital was
$1,000. His object in making for California
was not to engage in mining. He recog-
nized the opportunity for trading. He was
admirably equipped physically and men,
taliy Tor his undertaking. Sacramento was
selected as an objective point. Mr.. Hunt
fngton possessed discrimination that was
almost an unconscious intuition in measur-
ing supply and demand. and in that era of
WHO speculation 1t served as an unerring
guide to prosperity.
At first engaging in business in Sacra-
mento under his own name. he subsequent
" established the hardware house of Hunt
ington Il Hopkins. In seven years the firm
had accumulated a fortune.
Career as a Railroad Man.
Perhaps the most interesting chapter in
Mr. Huntingtons life was his part in the
building of the first transcontinental rail-
road The growing necessity of such an
avenue OF commerce and the value of 1t to
the Pacific was constantly before his eyes
and in his mind. Few among those who
had given the matter careful study and
consideration had faith in the practfca-
pilty or carrying a railway across the
eierras. even We're the capital to make the
attempt at hand. Leland Stanford, 1t is
related, in passing Mr. Huntington's store
one day saw a twenty-mule wagon pulling
out with load of supplies for the Com
stock mines at Virginia CITY. He went
into Mr.. Huntington's office and nronosed
the building of railroad from Sacramento
TO the mines of Nevada and that might
some day be extended to connect with the
railroad lines being pushed westward from
the Atlantic coast. long consultation
that evening at Mr.. Sanford's house re-
suited In a determination to undertake the
eleantlc enterprise. A persistent dplo-
matte endeavor for government aid was he
gun The outbreak of the civil war was
a setback, but confident of final success
Mr Huntington secured the cooperation of
SIX OF his neighbors in Sacramento, who
agreed at their own expense to make a
preliminary survey across the mountains
So 1t was that in 1861 they organized the
central Pacific Railroad Company, with
SS,J0O,u00 capital
Mr. Huntington was successful in secur-
ing government aid. and this is the way he
announced the fact in telegram to his as
sociates: We have drawn the elephant.
nov mow Iet us see If we can harness him up"
The anxietieS and difficulties incident to so
great an enterprise Were augmented by the
construction race which was being con-
tested with the Union Pacific railway The
cost OF labor and supplies was increasing
and all had to be paid for in gold coin. then
at high premium. But Mr.. Huntington
and his associates were rich in resources
and overcame all obstacles
Built Southern Pacific. Too.
After the completion of the Central Pa
cif1c Mr.. Huntington and three associates
created the Southern Pacific railroad, and
uuiihs It's Dulldlng there was another con-
struction race this time with the Texas Pa
enc. In connection with this enterprise
Mr.. Huntington secured control of eastern
connections by land and sea, and in 1SSI or
canned the Southern, Pacific Company of
kentucky, which unified in operation sys-
TEN OF transportation consisting of twenty
SIX railway and steamship lines. comprisinp
o'o9' miles of railway in the United States
ana Mexico. and 1876 miles of steamship
nnes. ines he was president of the Southern
Central railroad. He was also president Of
the Pacific Mail Steamship Company. and
Is the owner Of the Newport News Shin
buiding and Dry Dock Company at New
squipped establishments in the United
States and the world
Mr.. huntington was a railroad builder
ana operator, not a speculator He had lit
the dealings with the stock market ana
never looked at ticker" He enjoyed life
ana said he did not work hard, but easv