Los Angeles herald., 1905-09-03
III. E. Huntington
Leads i'm Vast
Enterprises

When did Los Angeles begin to grow?
DEVELOPMENT commenced in Novem-
ber, 1885, when the last spike was
driven for the Atlantic & Pacific rail-
road at the Cajon Pass, forming the
new route from the Atlantic ocean to
the Pacific.
The second period in the great awak-
ening and development was in October,
1898, when that great captain Of in
dustry, the man of wonderful genius
and many millions at his command, H.
e. Huntington, sold his interests in
San Francisco and bought the major
portion of the Los Angeles street rail-
way system. That was great day for
Los Angeles and Southern California
No one man has done more, planned
bigger things and produced greater re-
suits for the material advantage, con-
venience and pleasure of the people
than Mr.. Huntington. He has built,
extended, improved and equipped the
Los Angeles electric railway service in
a prodigal manner. He not only pro-
vided for the present, but he has built
for the future, doing things" all the
time that causes people to wonder
how far he will go and what next he
will do.
The great Pacific Electric building on
the southeast corner of Sixth and Main
streets, nine stories, with eleven acres
of floor space, is gigantic monument
to the enterprise of Henry E. Hunt
ington This building Is the central
station for the interurban car service
and is also devoted to office purposes.
Evolution of Car Service
Twenty years ago two horse cars
were operated on Spring street. Three
years later two cable lines, one on
Temple and one on Second street, ex-
tending to the hill section, were in OPP
Grafton and one electric line, the second
to be started in the United States, was
operated on Pico street. Later the cable
system was succeeded by electricity
and in 1898 the Huntington syndicate
bought the railway lines and began
improving the transportation facilities,
until now Los Angeles has nearly ESQ
miles OF 6l6CITlC railway, III thoolIiOh "
nearly 500 miles of interurban lines in
operation and projected. extending to
the many coast resorts and the foot
hill sections, the greatest electric sys-
tenn in the world.
Five to six thousand persons are in
the employ of the Huntington system,
and millions of dollars are invested in
the great railway enterprise.
Mr.. Huntington is still doing things.
He has not only established his splen-
did electric railway system, that has
served to make the coast points easily
accessible, but his enterprise has re-
suited in the creation Of attractive
beach cities and the development of
beautiful tracts for residence and busi-
ness purposes.
Mr. Huntington is apparently not con-
tent with all these great achievements.
Recently he purchased the Catalina
islands secured extensive wharf priv
ileges at San Pedro and purchased 1000
acres at Redondo and the harbor, and
also secured 1000 acres of sloping land
between Redondo and San Pedro.
1t is apparent that Mr.. Huntington
expects to be a very busy man for an
indefinite period and that Los Angeles
and Southern California will share
largely in the success of his plans goes
without saying.
Mr.. Huntington is a genius with un-
bounded faith in the future Of Los An
geles and adjacent territory. He is not
an ordinary investor. He conceives
plan or a great promotion proposition.
He makes a large purchase and then
proceeds to build electric railways and
provide other conveniences that do not
fail to assure the success Of every en-
terprise.
1t takes money and nerve to operate
in this manner. Mr. Huntington pos
sesses both to an unlimited extent.