Imperial Valley press., 1927-05-23
Veal. THY
PIONEER
IS DEAD
Henry Huntington Dies
In Eastern Hospital
After Long Illness.
FAMOUS COLLECTOR
Was Closely Identified
With Development Of
California.
BY United Press Leased Wire

PHILADELPHIA, May 23.-
Henry Huntington, IS, millionaire
railroad executive died at hospital
today.
He was a nephew of the late Col
lis z. Huntington, pioneer in trans
continental railroad building. 80
Huntington came to this city in
his private car last October and en-.
tered the hospital. He was operat-
ed on recently, the nature of which
was not disclosed.
The retired railroad executive
was also famous book collector.
In his palatial home at Pasadena,
Cal, he is said to have owned one
of the finest private Libraries in ex-
istence.
PASADENA, Cal, May ga
Henry Edward Huntington, of San
Marino, who died today in Philadel
phia was the principal owner of the
Los Angeles railway, builder of
800, 100000 fortune, and creator of
a library and art collection rivaled
only by the British museum
He was born at Oneonta, n. Y,
February 27, 1850, the son of Solon
and Harriet (Saunders) Hunting
ton. He was educated in public and
private schools and in 1873 married
Mary f. Prentice. His second wife,
Mrs. Arabella D. Huntington, was
the widow of his uncle. Coils P.
Huntington.
He started his business career in
Oneonta, n. y, where he was en-.
gagged in the hardware business,
later moving to New York City and
afterward engaging in railroad con.
struction work at St. Albans, W. Va.
His business ability attracted the
attention of his uncle. Coils P.
Huntington and at the death Of the
great railroad builder, he was
placed in control of his uncle 8 in,
terests, as we'll as being made
beneficiary in his will.
Huntington purchased a lumber
mill at st. Adams, and survived the
panic of 1873, although many of his
associates were ruined. Following
the panic he sold his lumber inter.
osts and joined his uncle in the lat.
ter's railroad projects.
He was placed in charge of con.
struction of the Memphis, Paducah
and Northern railroad, and did sim-
liar work for the Chesapeake and
Southwestern. Later he was named
superintendent of the Kentucky
Central railroad, which he reorgan.
lied.
Organized Railways
About 1892, Huntington came 10
California as assistant to the pres.
ident Of the Southern Pacific, a
post he held until 1900 when he be.
came second vice president and then
first president of the organiza-
ton.
He experimental with the street
railway system Of San Francisco,
and later came to Los Angeles,
where he promoted the Los Angeles
railway system, and organized the
Pacific Electric. Development of
this system, with its radiating in
terurban electric lines, is the unique
achievement of his life.
He gradually bought up all com.
peting lines until he was the sole
owner of the Los Angeles electric
system. Following a great program
of construction and expansion, no
disposed of the interests incorporat-
ed as the Pacific Electric to the
Southern Pacific. In acquiring
lines to the suburban area of Los
Angeles, he became owner of ex.
tensive interests in Redondo Beach.
Venice and adjoining districts.
In recent years he has remained
an officer in numberless important
corporations and has been a domin.
ant figure in power development in
Southern California. He has been
the greatest single land holder In
Southern California, owning tens OF
thousands of acres of city and eoun.
Continued on page 81