Invention Timeline – Collis Potter Huntington, American Railroad Builder; Planned and Perfected the Whole California Railroad System
b. October 22, 1821 and d. August 13, 1900
American railroad builder. He planned and perfected the whole California railroad system, built an Atlantic system, and developed an aggregate of 16,900 miles of steam water-lines, including the route to China and Japan; he was president of the Newport News and Mississippi Valley Company and vice-president of the Central Pacific and Southern Pacific railroad companies.
Without the powers of your arms,
And your industrious skill,
All banners might as well be furled,
For all the commerce of the world
Would soon be standing still;
Your strength gives force to every forge,
And life to every mill.
—Remember, Working Men: R. J. Derfel
1847—Pacific Mail Steamship Company organized.
1862—U. P. Railroad chartered.
1869—First transcontinental railroad completed by junction of Union and Central Pacific.
1875—A railroad from San Jose to Escuintha was begun and opened in 1880, June 18.
1812—Steam ferries were made for the first time and put in use between New York and Jersey City.
1876, June 13—The first railroad in China was opened for service (one-half of the line).
