The Honolulu republican. [volume] (Honolulu, T.H.) 1900-1902, 1900-08-28

4 y
Of Huntington VINO vas the hrziaies
man IN America. should unkesitafiag
/ ~ hare answered Coils P Huntington
In my answer I should not have beer
governed wholly By MS achievement:
but By the great mentality which thoss
/ achievements conspicuo1sly displayed
I IL my answer I should not have COZ
sidered Euntiugton's yezIth-for orziI:
| and wealth are often widely separated
Coils P. Huntington WAS ! many
sided man Inspected and analysed
from any standpoint OF MS versatility
Mr.. Huntington was genius NoE
usually there is only difference OF a
| degree between a genius and fool
and sometimes It is often difficult &c
distinguish them apart-to tell where
the one begins and the other ends
But Huntington, outside OF one point
had no weakness-that point Was the
low moral worth he saw in others and
which consequently he possessed.
Huntington was not only the builder
Of transcontinental railroad, the
founder Of two immense shipyards, the
ostensible owner of several railroads
and steamship lines. but an orator.
humorist, satirist, politician and lit
eratuer. He was the Swift and the
Carlyle Of his day. While not trained
in the Law he possessed legal attain
ments.
In the early days in California he
associated himself with Hopkins in
the hardware business in Sacramento.
Their store was on K street. In the
hardware business Huntington early
displayed that talent so marked in
after years. One morning the old
Union published a glowing account of
the discovery OF gold on Feather river.
Huntington was early at the store
Hopkins said he, Il want you to
buy up every pick and shovel to be OBJ
tanned in Sacramento"
But We haven't enough money TO
do it, demonstrated Hopkins.
Damn the money get the picks and
shovels," answered Huntington.
BY II o'clock there wasn't pick and
shovel in Sacramento that the firm of
Huntington, Hopkins & Co. didn't own.
The excitement spread up and down
the American river Miners left their
claims to rushsto Feather river. OF
course tney had to come to Sacramento
to outfit. There was big demand for
picks and shovels. The firm Of Hunt
ington, Hopkins & Co. made small
fortune.
This truthful anecdote illustrates
Huntington's alertness to take advan-
tage of situation. He displayed this
characteristic all through life.
was on the Sacramento Bee when
Huntington made one of his annual
tours of the road At Sacramento is
located the railroad shops of both the
Southern Pacific and Central Pacific
companies.
1t is a vast beehive of industry en-
ploying $500 mechanics. / was detailed
to accompany the Huntington party on
its tour. In visiting the railroad yards
Huntington discovered rusty coupling
pin. 1t was partially embedded in the
ground He worked at it for some time
with his foot until it was loosened
from its bed, and then STOPPING, picked
1t up. He carried that coupling pin for
two hours and half, or until the COM
plete tour of the shops was made. In
passing the huge scrap iron pile he
threw the pin on it without word Of
remark
1t was a practical lesson in economy
which perhaps | have not needed.
On another occasion Huntington
said: In my journey through life you
can't follow my trail by the two-bit
pieces have heedlessly thrown away"
"a bit Of philosophy worthy of Poor
Richard.
On the same tour of the shops which
have mentioned, Huntington discov-
cred begrimed workman in the rolling
mill who was awkward in his work.
My man. said he, you take an IN
necessary step every time you receive
one of those plates. Don't do IL and
you won't feel so tired when nigh.
comes"
Huntington was very plain man;
plain in his dress and plain in his man
ner. Up to within few years ago he
was an easy man to interview. Some
times he was brusQue, but not often.
/ remember once when on the San
Francisco Daily Report, an anti-rail-
road paper, of abruptly asking him the
question: .'Mr. Huntington. is there
any truth in the report that you con-
template buying up the California
He studied several moments and
then said in that peculiar way which
all will recognize who have conversed
with Huntington:
When / was a young man | made
b rule-which / have vigorously ad-
hered to ever since-never to buy any
thing that is worthless"
Ed J. Devlin. now city editor Of the
Sacramento Bee. when reporter on
that paper. was sent to interview Hunt
ington. Devlin was a bright young fell