Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-09-09
HARTMAN GETS
GREAT WELCOME
SAN FRANCISCO MERCHANTS
RECEIVE MAGNATE
DECLINES TO DISCUSS REPORTED
BIG DEALS PENDING
Asked If He contempIates Purchase
of the United Railroads and
Spreckels Steamships,
He Is Silent

BY Associated Press.
SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. Sc. H.
Hartman, who controls the vast liar
riman railroad lines, the largest sys-
tenn in the world, and who arrived III
San Francisco yesterday from KAN
ath lake, Ore, where he has been
spending a three weeks vacation, was
given a reception at the Fairmont no
tel this afternoon by the Manufactur-
ers and Producers association OF Call
| fornia,
Edward r. Taylor and representatives
| of all the commercial organizations
around the bay attended. The lobbies
| of the hotel were crowded with mer-
chants and business men who awaited
themselves of the opportunity to meet
| the railroad magnate.
Italian Banker Presides
Andrea Sbarboro of the Italian
| American bank and president of the
Manufacturers and Producers assoc1a-
ton presided and made brief address.
He called upon Governor GilIett ana
Mayor Taylor, both of whom welcomed
Mr.. Hartman to the state and TO san
Francisco, and dwelt upon his vast IN
| terests here,
enthusiastic reception given him ana
for the opportunity afforded In meeting
the merchants and business men or
San Francisco.
He referred to the indomitable ener-
gy of the people of San Francisco as
shown by the marvellous rapidity with
which the work of reconstruction had
progressed, and predicted gerat flu
ture for the city and state.
Magnate Is Taciturn
When asked today about the report
circulated among brokers that he was
negotiating for the purchase of the
United Railroads, the street railway
system of San Francisco, of which Pat
rick Calhoun is president, Mr.. Harri-
man declined to discuss the matter.
Neither would be affirm or deny the
report that he had purchased the
steamers Sierra, Sonoma and Ventura
of the Oceanic steamship line, recently
discontinued between San Francisco
and New Zealand. Color was given the
report by a long conference yesterday
between Mr.. Hartman and John ID.
Spreckels, president of the Oceanic
company.
Mr.. Hartman and Mr.. Spreckels, it is
said, also discussed the San Diego d
Yuma railroad, which Spreckels is
building from San Diego to Arizona.
Leaves for the East
Following the reception Mr.. Harri-
man and his family left for the east
on his special train. He said he was
hurrying to New York in order to be
able to return to California to attend
the transmississippi commercial con-
gress, which meets in San Francisco
October to 10.
Among the interesting remarks made
during the course of Mr.. Harriman's
address which were considered encour-
aging to California was his statement:
You are the producers; we are the car
riers. Our interests are and should be
the same. Be frank with US. Let us
konw what your wants are, and 1 can
assure you that nothing will be turned
down until it has received our conSid-
Grafton"
Continuing, he said: IT believe in fair
dealing and a fair return for capital
invested and the thought, brain work,
nervous energy and work that must be
put in large enterprises. We are enti-
tied to something for that. We are
more than a mere machine, and just
as human as the rest of you are.
81 have been practically out of the
world for several weeks, but l am glad
to say that the country is getting back
to a less hysterical and more common
sense view of looking at things.
I'VE all know what we have had to
contend with during the past eighteen
months.
DO you ever think of the amount of
nervous force and energy that have to
be put into the work of large enter
prises?
Il have often thought whether it was
really worth while-whether it would
not be better to settle down in com
Portable circumstances and live in quiet
and contentment. But there is some
thing in man that makes him want to
go on to finish what he has started
"It is such meetings as this that
seem to make it worth while to go
ahead"
conference between E. H. Harri-
man and r. c. Gillis of Los Angeles
yesterday gave rise to a published re-
port that extensive purchases were
contemplated in Southern California by
the Hartman interests, but this was
denied.
Contemplated extensions of lines in
Los Angeles owned by Hartman and
Huntington were discussed, and it is
reported that the proposal to electrize
various lines about San Francisco bay
was favorably discussed. This report
was supported by an interview given
bv III. e. Huntington, who said:
I'VE are contemplating extensions
about Los Angeles, and I think you
will see more general use of cleo
! tricitv from year to year. In fact,
| look to see these steam roads making
use of electricity"