The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-09-07
JAMES J. HILL HERE.
The Great Northern President
Talks of His Plans.
THE sKAGiT ROUTE REJECTED.
He Thinks Union Depot Is Wanted
The Portland Line-The Outlook
in the Money Market.

James J. Hill. president OF the Great Northern
railroad, arrived in the city yesterday on his
private car, accompanied by Mr.. ana Mrs. Ed
ward Tuck OF New York; Mr. Samuel Hill and
Mr c. Nee. Reeve, of Minneapolis, and Mr..
Frank Ward of St Paul. Mr.. Samuel Hill is
President HITS son-inlaw and Mr.. Tuck is a
partner in the banking firm OF Munroe il Co., of
New York.
MT Hill has come TO Seattle TO look after the
affairs of his road on the Sound-to inspect the
Seattle Montana, examine the depot facilities
of this city aud decide about the operation of
the New Westminster Southern road. In an in
terview with Posi- IsTgLLiGEsCER reporter he
said:
"The question of the erection of depot here
is q very important one AMI want to look into
it, IL would lie much better il all the roads
could agree to use one depot; 1t would cut the
city up less
"They have been getting along rather slowly
with the Seattle d Montana road, and want to
see how they are getting along with it, think
il will be finished in a week or ten days. The
new Westminster Southern will be operated as
soon as we get this road connected through, but
| cant tell how we shall cross the river 10 New
Westminster until have seen the place.
"On the main line the route has been settled
Oh es far Chatteroy. We arc building a road
from the cast, aud have not decided on the
route any further west. We have run several
lines beyond there. but there are some difficult
questions 10 settle 1t is difficult matter to
get down TO and up from the Columbia river
with easy grades. II a railroad is going 10 do a
great deal of good to the country it has 70 get to
do business at low price. We cant lift il over
hill cheapy as we can run it on the level
The difference is the same as that between one
horse or Il cayuse and two big cart horses.
The route by which We shall cross the Cas-
cades is nearly settled, but we have not decided
on the pass. l can tell you it won't be the
Skagit; think it will be south of that"
"There are number of reports about the pass
by which the road will cross the mountains,
remarked the reporter.
"Those questions are OF very little import
arce,' replied Mr.. Hill. "No matter what
crack in the mountains we come through, the
rates will be the same for all places 1t will
make no more difference than if the wind blows
fifteen points more or less to the northwest
Its the country thati going to make the cities
or its natural wealth converted into money.
You can't eat logs, ore, etc.
"Are you going to do anything about the
Portland & Puget Sound road?"
1.-The Great Northern owns half of that road
and We must consult our partners about it.
We cannot go ahead and build it without them.
We shall not build separate road to Portland,
but shall wait for the construction of the Port
land Puget Sound. The condition of the
Union Pacific is greatly improved; it has settled
LII.
made was that he began building the road before
he knew where the money was coming from to
finish it,"
"The condition of the money market is not
much improved since the shaking-up of last
fall Speculation has increased the price OF some
stocks.We have big crop, but Europe has not
got TO take it. How is she going to pay for it?
How is a poor man in Gumangar island who
has been. living on loaf of rye bread, going to
pay for 1t? He can't sell his hands or his head.
Europe can't send US gold in payment. Ii she
were TO send back all the gold taken from US in
the last six months, it would put the people
over there in state of panic, and we should
feel it in this country; You would feel it here
Puget Sound. Europe and America so close
together now that the effect of panic there
is felt promptly in this country"
Mr. Hill aud his party leave this morning on
trip down the Seattle & Montana road, and will
then go on down Sound