The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-06-04
HIS BOND OF STEEL.
President Hill Predicts It's
Early Completion.
TALK ON TERMINAL QUESTION.
Head OF tho Great Northern in the City
Plans OF the Road Regarding
freight Rates.

President James J. Hill and Chief En-
gineer f. H. Becker, OF the Great North
ern railroad, arrived in the city over the
Northern Pacific road at IL 80 O'Clock
yesterday morning. They came in Mr.
Hills new private car A l. which il
very handsomely fitted up, and presents !
great contrast to his old car Manitoba,
which shows signs of long hard service.
Mr.. Hill and Mr.. Becker spent the greater
part of the afternoon in conference with
7. p. Shelby. the general manager of the
Coast lines, and Judge Thomas Burke and
Thomas r. Shepard, the roads attorneys
here, on the terminal and other questions
relating TO the Great Northern's advent
here. Mr.. Hill shows signs of the wear
and tear caused by the great responsible
ties thrown upon him. He has aged per-
ceptibly since he was last here, and his
hair and whiskers are much grayer. But
he is as keen of thought and quick of
action as ever, and talks with his character
istic positiveness about bis intentions.
He had but little time to spare yesterday,
as he left at 4 O'Clock on special train for
Everett, Fairhaven and New Whatcom.
During those few minutes he said to a
PosT-IyrELLIGEScER reporter:
The terminal question ought to be settled in
M amiea5le way between the roads | sent a
copy OF my plan for terminal grounds to Mr..
Cakes OF the Northern Pacific. and he sent me
aplan. saying he had no suggestions 20 make
except that il would involve the purchase of
konie ground on the part OF the Northern Pa
cite. think tho roads will all agree to that
proposition. They couldn't very well avoid it,
for II gives them as good terminal facilities or
better than any city know. The people OF Sc
hay as fs-p m iptp i'm rros ag
the railroads. Wha. they have got TO guard
against is blocking of access from the city to
the water front. Nesrly ali the business viii
be done by land. bat Ii he's got TO come in so as
90 interfere as little as possible with the water
traffic.
Yoa expect TO have the road connected
through to the Coast by November. don't
you?
Yes By July the grading viii be completed
to the Columbia, aud by August Is the track
VIII be laid to that river. In July we shall
begin laying track from this side of the noun
tains, and by September we ought to have the
gap down to about eighty miles
At this point Mr.. Hill was informed
that cab was waiting 10 take him to his
train and he hurried away. He will re-
turn this evening and probably remain
several days.
The Spokane papers of Thursday con-
tain lengthy interviews with Mr.. Hill. He
said that trains would be running into
Spokane in about ten days, and that he
was making arrangements for them to run
into the Union depot. Arrangements
will be made to run train through to the
Sound over the Northern Pacific until the
Great Northern is finished. He is arrang-
Ing through his engineers for the construc-
ton OF terminal tracks through Spokane
and will make that city the headquarters
Of the Western division, with machine
shops employing $50 to 300 men and cap
able of turning out seventy-five locomo-
tives annually, besides shops for repairing
and building cars.
The Spokane people show some dissatis-
faction with Mr.. Hills utterances on the
subject of freight rates to their city. The
Spokesman gives the following interview:
Mr. Hill, in the Office of the Spokesman there is
an unpublished communication from promin-
ent shipper and well-known citizen of this
city, in which 1t is stated that in recent con-
versation with General Traffic Manager Hanna.
ford, OF the Northern Pacific, that official said
"Not long ago had talk with Jim Hill, who
SAID 20 me that when he got firmly intrenched
the tariff sheets of the Northern Pacific, and
that he would comply with them" Did you
have such conversation with Mr.. Hannaford
l am not responsible for what Mr.. Hannaiord
SAYS.
;, DO You contemplate any such overtures to the
Northern Pacific?
II is somewhat premature TO talk about freight
tariffs.
He was more outspoken on the rate
question in talking with the Repiew Ie.
porter, for he said:
When 1 was here before promised that spo
kane should have rates which would enable her
to compete Tor bus ness with any city west o.
south OF her. BY that meant that she should
be put in position To do the business of the
territory rightfuliy tributary To her. stand BY
that pledge aud it will be redeemed at the
proper time. Many of you people here do no;
completely understand the situation. Wha;
Spokane needs is not terminal rate. but rels-
tive one. For instance, were To cut the rate 70
Spokane just now, before my own road has
reached the Coast, the other roads might cut
their terminal rates relatively aud Spokane
would be no better of than before, while the
railroads would probably be gamers, az they
would continue 10 do the business they haye al
present. aud would besides take u part OF thai
aow done by the ships
The system ON which rates are adjusted NJ
present is all wrong. spokane is at the apex 50
speak. she pays the rate to tie Coast tthc
terminal ratel and in addition tho cost or trans
porting the freight back again. This merldisna
largely, aud | think VIII be radically ehanSed
when the Great Northern reaches the Coast
Rate wars are things 10 be avoided. They IL
nobody any good. The inevitable result is tina
the companies get together ana agree on a re
adjustment. Now believe in adjusting thcs,
taings in a friendly WAY. The proposition j:
purely business one. Ny line 10 Spokane viii
be nearer 10 many, perhaps most, of the DIS
tributiag points IL the Unitcd ststes than an,
oi Its competitors. This being tie case hav,
the righ, - demand that the present exorbitau
rate 10 sails point be reduced, snd / think tht
other roads VIII agree wiki me when | show
them how the situation has been changed b.
the advent of the Great Northern.
Mr. Cakes, for instance. IS Ii business ,rau
ana have 40 doubt VIII agree 10 the prouos!
ton when the time comes 10 lay il before him
have 10 intention OF cutting rates or no dess n
81 do so 10 such points san Diego, san Fran
cisco. Portland or the sound cities. AL of thcs
places get exactly the same rate, no matter wha
the length OF the haul j.. ana Spokane at pres
ent pays higher rate than any Of them. Tha
IL why say what SPOKANE wants Is not ter
miuRl rate, but = relative one, and believe, il
fact am confident, she Will get i, for she la
rtrht and reason oH her side
In consequence Of this declaration,
committee of shippers held meeting an,
decided 10 confer with the rjght-of-wa'
committee before the road enters the hear
OF the city. II is proposed TO put SOM
questions 10 Mr.. Hill and act according :,
The character of his answers, whether sat
isfactory or not.
The following telegram tells OF the AZ
rival of Mr.. Hill and his party Al Fair
haven:
FAisuAvEx. June s.-rresident Hill. O, ~
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