Amarillo daily news. [volume] (Amarillo, Tex.) 19??-current, 1912-03-05
HARTMAN WAS
NATURE LOVER
Other Side of Character of
Late Railway Mag nate
Is Shown

~ Washington. d. C.. March I. Or
C. Hart Merriam. who until recently
was the chief Of the government
biological survey. which is a bureau
OF the department of agriculture,
is now the head Of what is known
as the Hartman Geological Fomda-
ticn with Headquarters in this city.
DR. Merriam is perhaps the highest
authority in Aemerica on subjects
pertaining TO the life OF mammals
and birds. and he is one of the chief
authorities on American Indian his
tory tralitionand fix lore.
The Hartman Geological rounda.
ton was provided for In the will OF
Edward II. Hartman. the railroad
magnate who died less than two years
ago The headquarters OF research
now have been established in Wash.
ineton. End here Mr. Merriam. in ac-
cordanee with the wishes OF Mr.. Har-
riman, as expressed In his will, is to
carry forward the work OF extending
knowledge OF natural history.
Few people knew that Edward II.
Hartman. one Of the richest men in
the United States. and one whose time
seemingly was almost wholly given
over to the extension OF railroad lines
and the securing of railroad holdings,
had any other heart interest than that
Of business Mr. Merriam and a good
many scientists OF the country knew
the other side OF Mr.. Harripan's life.
but the people generally did not
know II.
Discovering His Other slde.
II one may be forgiven for speaking
personally. the story OF how | found
out that Mr. Hartman cared for other
things than his family. and stocks a d
bonds. may rot be uninterssting. Not
long before Mr. Harriman's death,
newspaper business called me to
Augusta, Ga. My companion on the
trip knew Edward II. Hartman per.
sonally. Just as the train was leaving
Washington Mr. Harriman's private
car was attached to II. for the railroad
man was going on a visit 10 his broth.
er IN the south.
My companion was invited to dine
with Mr. Hartman in his private car,
and was included In the invitation
out OF pollteness. never had seen
Mr. Hartman before. | sat In the
first seat at his left at the dinner to.
Bile. The other guests we're three men
OF huge business Affairs. one OF them
the head OF the greatest railroad or.
ganization In the United States and
the others proportionately great In tho
world Of business. Nothing but bust.
ness was talked at the dinner table;
the extension Of this line and that
line; and stocks and bonds and other
things foated around until felt ut.
terly shut out because OF these things
! did not know much and cared less.
Finally. in order to let my host know
! was alive | turned to him and said
Il have all the journals OF the HART.
man Alaskan expedition thus far is.
sued, and. what is more, have read
them"
His Interest In Natural History.
Mr.. Harriman's eye lighted lie
turned 10 me with a sort OF surprised
enthusiasm. and he said In a voice that
was almost an exclamation: Il seldom
ind anyone outside OF the circles II
the strict scientists who have more
than a sort OF hazy recollection that
once on time there was such thing
as a Hartman Alaskan expedition"
So far as this man of huge and per.
haps overpower.ng commercial opera
tions was concerned, there was pre-.
cious little else in the conversation for
the next hour except his Journey TO
Alaska taken ten years before in the
company OF men known all over the
world for their scientific attachments.
The man OF business had thrown away
business aud was showing that he was
glad OF the chance
Mr. Hartman about 70 years ago
conceived thel idea Of taking a party
OF scientists 10 Alaska 10 give them
chance 10 study the fauna and fora OF
that country he chartered a ship and
the scientists we're the guests OF him
self and family for many weeks. On
that trip Mr.. Hartman became in.
tensely interested In natural history.
When he died Il was found that he had
LETT provision for the Hartman
Geological Foundation, and that e nert
Merriam. chief OF Uncle Sans Dr. 80.
cal survey. was 10 be asked o. be-
come It's head
The National Press club has just held
MS third hobby night. Hobby nights
al the Press club are regarded by the
newspaper correspondents OF Washing.
ton as OF extraordinary interest The
Idea is 10 invite men Of note and to
ask each one to talk for ten minutes
on his particular hobby. The last
hobby riders we're Count Won Bern.
storff. the German ambassador TO the
United States: Secretary Philander
Chase Knox, Dr. S. W Stratton OF the
bureau OF weights and measures. and
Victor Herbert the musician.