El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1914-09-19
HAGGIN, GREAT
TURFMAN, DIES
Was California Forty-nin
and Owned Many
Famous Horses.

When James Ben Ali Haggin. capi-
talist and horseman, died at his sum
mer home in Newport, r /. several
days age, the American turf lost its
most distinguished patron
Mr.. Haggin was 81 years OF age and
was the greatest breeder OF thorough
bred race horses in this country, and
California fOrty-niner. He was born in
HarrOdsburg, KY, IN 1927. The name
Ben Ali came TO him from his mother,
who was Miss Adeline Ben-Ah, and
was declared to have been Turkish
woman who was exiled because she
embraced Christianity.
Little is known Of AIr. Haggin's early
life, except that he received his educa-
ton in Danville, Ky, was prepared for
the bar in his native state He began
practicing In Shelbyville, KY: later
went to NatcheZ. Miss, and then to
New Orleans, where he became inspired
by the tales Of gold in California, and
in 1849 started for the Pacific coast
by way Of the Isthmus of Panama, ar
irving in San Francisco in 1850
Fortunate Investment in Mines.
At the time Of his arrival on the coast
there was much need for active and
competent lawyers in the settlement Of
individual and property rights and the
demand for his services was 50 great
and the payments so large that he made
great deal Of money, all OF which
went into mining investments
Although he possessed no technical
knowledge Of mining, his investments
We're good. He began the series OF
fortunate investments which landed
him among the foremost fiuanciers Of
this country. II not Of the world He
did not cOnfine his operations TO Cali
1Ornia, but was one Of the first 10 be-
come interested in the Black Hills Of
Dakota, where he became the owner OF
the famous Homestake and other
mines. Later, he became interested in
the great copper development at Butte,
Mont and acquired Mr.. Days inter-
ests in the Anaconda Copper company,
which he afterwards sold for $1,000
600, besides owning valuable mines in
other sections OF the United States as
well as in Mexico and South America.
Owned Kern County Once.
While N. Haggin was in partnership
with Lloyd Tevis. he bought farm lands
in California, until at one time he was
the owner Of a solid block OF 100000
acres. practically the whole OF Kern
county. and was the head and front Of
the great irrigation contest between the
individual settlers on farm lands in
California and Miller and Lux who
owned $50. 600 acres Of land in differ
ent counties, and hundreds OF thou
sands Of head Of cattle.
The cattlemen objected to the diver
sion Of rivers to fumes and bitches for
the purpose Of irrigation in the san
Joaquin valley, which had turned u
fields. from a barren waste, claiming
that irrigation was unconstitutional,
and quoting the old English law, Wa
ter ought TO flow as it has been accus-
toned to flow"
They wanted the water for the use
OF their herds and the watering OF
their pastures. HagEin and his partner
came TO the defence Of the small
farmers. and fought the issue success
fully through courts and legislature
Famous HHEEin ThOrOUEhbred Horses.
When Mr. HaEgin had reached the /
height Of his prosperity, and had ad- /
vanced in age. he began 10 devote a I
little time TO play Coaching appealed I
to him at first. and he drove a four-in- Z
hand with William c. RalstOn and Nil I
ton S. Latham as his constant associ-
ates- After RalstOn's death and La I
tham's financial troubles. he lost all 4
interest in that sport. and turned TO 4
the breeding Of thoroughbred horses
He started a small establishment /
near Sacramento with one sire, Lang
field. and a few mares. and year or i
two later his colors began TO appear on I
the track. In 1854 he sent Hidalgo and 1
a few others OF his breeding TO eastern