The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-07-15
MAKERS OF RICFlAlOND
Brief Sketches Of Men Who Have Helped to Make the City
sketch No, 1s-sorcs Began tune 70, 1904
sketch No. u.s. series Began June Il, 1901.

Mr.. Slaughter William Huff, general
manager for the Virginia Passenger and
T over Company, has only been a rest
dent OF Richmond for two years, but in,
that time he has become quito widely
known; and has extended tho local ac-
lquaintance formed while a student at
Richmond College. While Mr.. Huff has
sreft part Of his lifc III the North and
West lie Is a yirginian by birth and
ancestry. and a. devoted SON OF the old
.Comnionw It'll. He Is n sol, OF REV. 8.
III. HUFF and Bette Juroy Huff. Ills
father was for more than forty years
prominent IN the work and councils
Of tho Baptist Church. On Ills fathers
side his ancestors settled in tho Val.
luton and were prominent In the de-.
velopment of that section. On his moth
ellr's side he is a, great-grandson Of
Colonel John Slaughter. OF the Revolu-
ton (frorn whom l,o gets his first name),l
whose numerous descendants have.
been prominently identified with the ma-i
tcrial interests Of Cdlpeper and the sur
rounding counties.
After attending the preparatory schools
In the nelghborhood Of Batesville Va.,s
Mr.. Huff was for one year at 1rishbnrnel
thiti.s'i l<AStAoctHy n isCIool, W StlS9''oto,s
Va; three years at Richmond College,
Richmond, Va, and two years at Cor
nell University. 1thaca, NJ y. 4 After
leaving Richmond College and before en-
tering Cornell University, taught one
year In graded schools Of Stnun ton and
one year at Miller Manual Labor School,,
Albemarla county. In order to gain prac-.
tical experiences, he spent ono summer
vacation while taking course Of cleo
.trical engineering at Cornell University
in tho shops Of the Union Railway Com
irany Twenty-ninth and P Streets, Rich
lnond Va, filling the various positions
from pit hand to armature wnder. This
was about tile time that Sprague turned
over his wo rkS to the local company, and
when the success or failure of Electricity
as q motive power for street cars wa
hanging iii the balance, and the experi-
cnces OF the early. roads werc being wa tch-f
ed with the great test interest. ss
After completing tho electrical en- glneer-3
ing course $at Corhel together With some
of tho postgraduate work, Nfr. Huff
was appointed assistant superintendent
Of the Baxter Electric Motor and Manu-
featuring Company, OF Baltimore. one
OF the pioneer companies in the manu.
facturc 8of 4 al ectrical ma chlnery, having
first covered the field Of electric motors
for arc light circuits and at this time
QS9D was entering the field of electric
railway motor manu- facture. He resign
ed this position to accept that of gen
cral manager Of the Raleigh Street Rail-
way Company. Raleigh. N. c.
From this position, he returned to Ball
timore, two years later, as general su-F
perintendcnt OF the Baxter Company
While holding this position lie was ap-5
pointed electrical engineer OF the Cos
lumbia and Maryland Railway Company.
q company engaged in the construction
of IN electric line between Baltimore
and Washing tom. Upon the consolida-
ton Of all the street car lines in the
city of Baltimore, he was appointed
master mechanic of the United Railways
and Electric Company, Of Baltimore
and was later promoted to the position
of electrical and mechanical engineer Of
tho same company, He resigned this
position to so to San francisco IS en-;
gineer and opera ting expert for a Balti-4s
more syndicat e enga ged in the acquire