One among scores of gold-seeking ‘forty-niners,’ Huntington eventually became a member of the ‘Big Four’ who organized the Central Pacific Railroad in 1861. TLS signed “C. P. Huntington,” one page, 8.25 x 10.75, Southern Pacific Company letterhead, September 24, 1892. Letter to the Secretary of the Interior, John Willock Noble. In part: “Mr. Wm. Garland…[who] is about to organize and build a road from Bowie station, Arizona, located on the line of our Southern Pacific Railroad…to be called the Arizona Midland Railway…Globe is the center of an important mining region requiring rail transportation for its full development. The valley of the Gila along from Solomonville to Fort Thomas is fertile… the proposed railroad will be very advantageous to that particular locality. The Government will especially be benefited by this road, enabling it to furnish transportation for such military supplies as may be needed at Fort Thomas reservation and the Indian supplies for the White Mountain reservation…Mr. Garland is a cautious, conservative man and does not like to start in to build his proposed road until he shall have determined and fixed upon the most available line, which it is very likely will bring him through the White Mountain Indian reservation. To that end, he would like a letter from you directing the Agent of the White Mountain Indian reservation to permit him to make a survey across that section of the country." In very good condition, with intersecting folds, two through a single letter of signature, some scattered creases, pencil notations to top, and light show-through from docketing on reverse. RRAuction COA.
