Los Angeles herald., 1908-03-31

STORY HAS NO
FOUNDA TON
HUNTINGTON STILL RETAINS HIS
RAILWAY INTERESTS
HARTMAN FAILS TO SECURE
STOCK
Prominent Officials of Lines Say That
Los Aneeles-PacIfle Is Only Local
Road Controlled by Southern
Pacific Magnate

"E. H. Hartman has not acquired
control of the Huntington electric rail-
way properties in and around Los An
geles, and the statement to the effect
that Mr.. Huntingtons holdings have
been taken over by Hartman, as pub
lished in a morning paper, is utterly
without foundation" said prominent
official of the Huntington system yes
terday.
Howard e. Huntington, son of the
famous railway magnate, said:
"There is to my knowledge not q
particle of truth in the story published
in the Examiner. l do not know Of
anything on which such rumors pos
sibly could have been founded. My
father probably will return here in
April and Is planning continued i'm
provements of his railway systems In
and around Los Angeles
The foregoing and other similar
statements were made around Pacific
Electric headquarters yesterday.
One official of the road, who has
been for many years with the Hunt
inptons, made the following statement,
but for obvious reasons did not wish
to be named:
Henry Il. Huntington l1tcItSlo
are involved In Los Angeles and vicin-
ity to a greater extent, perhaps, than
elsewhere. He has faithfully endeav-
ored to establish here one of the finest
electric railway systems in the world,
and to what extent he has succeeded Is
well known.
Hounded by Paper
"He takes deep personal pride in
his success, and having been driven
from San Francisco by one of the
papers there which continually hound
ed him and sought to Illustrate the
consummation of plans in that city OF
the same magnitude as those he has
carried out here he came to Los An
geles and was accorded a hearty well
come by the people. He made certain
promises which he has more than full
filled. and his plans are not yet ended.
He is not dissatisfied and has fas-
tened his faith firmly on the great
ultimate future of the southwest me-
tropolis. There is no reason why he
should turn over his holdings to Har-
riman, although there may be no ques-
tion of the latters desire to gain con-
troll here.
1.-THE story in the morning paper is
regarded in our offices as a joke. We
pay no attention to such ,unwarranted
yarns, only to smile at them. So far
as | know, no reporter so much as
called on any of the officials of the
Huntington systems to ascertain If the
alleged rumor has a tangible excuse.
No one here was asked If Hartman
had secured control. so far as / am
able to learn, and no one here has said
that Mr. Huntington had sold or con-
templated selling.
Henry 10. Huntington, while his in
terests are not solely here, regards
the Pacific Electric system as his pet
He has extensive holdings in the east,
including a shipbuilding plant at New
pert News, but those who know him
know his heart is in Los Angeles"
Investigations made by a reporter
at the Pacific Electric headquarters
yesterday brought out the admission
that Hartman and the Southern Pa
cific had acquired control of the Los
Angeles-Pacific system and that the
Hartman interests also were. in pos
session of a good bulk of the Pacific
Electric stock, but Mr.. Huntington still
retains controlling interest.