The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-11-07
WILLARD is IN TOWN.
He Discusses Finances and Com.
petition Chilly.
The Great Northwest, He Believes, Ha. a
Brilliant Future-Eo Indications of
New Overland Line.

Henry Willard, ex-newspaper man, finan-
cier railroad president and all-round intel
lectual athlete. arrived here yesterday in
his special car. and is registered at the Pal
ace. AS Chairman of the Board OF Direct
ors of the Northern Pacific Railroad he is
once more at the head Of the affairs of that
great corporation, and has been making
tour of the lines under his supervision.
There has been a great improvement in
the financial situation of late" he said, land
the country is on the eve of an era of
great prosperity. Crops are large and prices
high. and the railroads are moving an i'm
mense amount OF farm products to market.
In Washington, the Dakotas and Oregon the
wheat supply is simply phenomenal, and our
gross receipts at the present time, largely
drawn from the transportation of that COM
modify alone, are Si200e0 day. The pass
enger business is also largely increased. and
immigrants are pouring into the Northwest
in great numbers. That section is building
up "a pidly, and while the boom" features
of the growth have disappeared there is q
steady and satisfactory growth.
THE GREAT NORTHWEST.
The development of the Northwest, re-
markable as ii has been fer the last three
or four years. is yet in its infancy, and with
their wonderful resources they may look for
ward TO many years of material improve
ment. In anticipation of this growth We
have been for the last two years building
branch lines. particularly in Washington,
until we have covered the Stat e with lines
and we shall do but little in the way of ex-
tension for some years to come. There is
such thing, you know, as overriding a
thing of that kind, and that we have en-
deavored to avoid. We are now entirely
safI find "a ha cit ND
to blde our time before launching out into
any new enterprises"
COMPETITION FRowNED DOWN.
When asked about the outlook for q COM
netting line to San Francisco from the
East, Mr.. Willard continued: ~ can
not see any prospect for one in the near
future, nor can L see wherein one could be
made paying investment. So far as our
line is concerned we are doing better now
than we could hope to do were we to build
into California, and With our facilities for
interehanging business with the Southern
Paclhc we are doing as well or even better
than We could do with line of our own. Such
l take to be the feeling of all the managers of
the overland roads at present. and so long
as their cars are handled promptly and they
are dealt with fairly can see no reason for
their extension in this direction.
II a competing line ever comes in l
fancy II will not be from the north. Why?
Well, the main reason is ply steal one, and
l can only say that the cost OF constructing
q line from that direction woud be SO great
that do not think any company would be
willing to undergo the risk. The phys
obstacles to overcome would deter any one
from making the venture, and the cost would
certainly be enormous.
IT HELPED THEIR ROAD.
So far rs competition Is concerned it Ia
not always a disadvantage TO u transporta-
ton company. The fact is that since our
territory has been invaded by the Canadian
Pacific our business has increased until we
are doing a remnnerRtive business and we
have no regrets when we consider the rivalry
that has sprung up"
In conclusion Mr.. Willard stated that he
would probably remain in this city for sew
eral days and that his presence at this time
WAS without Significance.