Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-04-25
Passing of Former United
States Senator Camden
AT A HOTEL IN BALTIMORE
Served Two Terms in Senate From
West Virginia.
DIED OF KIDNEY CONGESTION
Was One Of the States Wealthiest
and Most Successful Business
Nen-His Career.

BALTIMORE. April 25.-Former United
States Senator johnson N. Camden Of
West Virginia died at the Hotel Belve-
dere here today Of congestion of the kid
neys. He had been i'll at the hotel for the
last two weeks. Mr.. Camden. who was
eighty years old. had been in failing
health for several years He spent the
last winter in Miami. Fla.
While at St. Augustine in the early part
of this month he was seized with the kid
ney affection. and it was decided by the
family to bring the former senator to
Baltimore for medical treatment. His
condition grew worse after his arrival
here and he began to sink yesterday,
pa ssing away this forenoon.
At his bedside were his wife and son.
j. n. Camden, jr., and Gen. and Mrs. p
D. Spillman. the last named being the
senator's daughter. This evening the
body will be taken to the family home
at Petersburg, W. va. where the flu
neral will be held next Monday afternoon.
johnson n. Camden was one of the
most successful business men of West
Virginia. He was a native of that state.
having been born in Lewis county in 1928.
He did great deal to develop the re-
sources of the state, obtaining the means
for many striking commercial accomp-
lishments through early association with
the Standard Oil Company. He served
one term in the United States Senate from
1881 to 1887 and later was elected to fill
the vacancy caused by the death of John
E. kenna. serving from 1893 to 1895. AL
though he took no active part in the de-
bates he will be remembered as the au-
thor OF the long and short haul clauses
OF the original interstate commerce act.
During the second term of Senator Cam
den the WilsOn-Gorman tariff bill debates
were in progress. and with number of
other senator's he became involved in
charges growing out of speculation in
stocks OF the sO-called sugar trust. In the
Investigation which was ordered Senator
Camden denied that he had purchased any
OF the stocks 4 telegram was produced
containing an order to his broker to buy
sugar.. and when confronted with the
original he admitted that 1t looked like
his writing, but said that he had no rec
objection of the transaction. The late
Senator Quay also was questioned and
admitted that he had bought sugar stocks
He said that he had specialized all his
life. and would continue to do so. In eff
feet he asked his inquisitors what they
proposed to do about it, and his stand re-
suited In the termination of the investiga-
ton.
Former Senator Camden was a man
of great wealth. largely accumulated
through the development of the resources
of his state. He built narrow gauge
railroad from Petersburg to Weston and
timber. Later this was stold to the Bal
ttfnore and Ohio and was changed to
standard gauge. 1t has been greatly ex-
tended since. and is now one of the most
valuable feeders OF the Baltimore and
Ohio system.
Mr. Camden built the Monongah railroad
from Ciarksburg to Fairmont. which re-
suited in the development of what is
corceded to be the richest coal territory
In the state. 1t is in that territory that
are situated the Monongah mines, where
tho horrible explosion with great loss of
lives occurred last summer. Mr.. Camden
bought and extended what is now the
interstate electric railroad from Hunting
ton, w. Va, through Catlettsburg and
Ashland. KY. and across the river to
Ironton. Ohio. one of the best paying
electric systems in the country.
For the past four or Ave years Mr.
Camden had been the chief figure in the
purchase Of coal lands in Kentucky. ex-
tending from the Big Sandy river south
over tract of many square miles. None
of the resources of this territory has
beer developed. but it is said the coal is
more valuable for the production of coke
than that mined in the Connellsvilie
region.