The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-04-09

Winnipeg 70 the West He he'd . con-
noctton with Il from Winnipeg for his
roads in Minneoots and Dakota, but when
the Canadian government decided to ex-
tend their line on toward the East he Ct
once sav that this would cut OF his reve-
nue. from the West, and he planned the
great trunk line which was this month
completed. He went over the whole line
On foot and on horseback. and he knows.
am told. every. foot Of track and the
character Of nearly every section Of land
along his nearly 3, COO miles Of main track.
ne has made . thorough study Of
what 10 under the soil Is well as
what 10 on it. and . famous geologist
yno reeently went over the road said thai
Mr.. Hill knew ~ much q he did about
tho geological nature Of the country. Il
was the same with La Doux. the chemist
o. national note, and Mr.. Bracket tells
me that Mr.. Hill can describe to ron the
oesoais Of the construction Of every side
track ana every water tank along this big
nns from the headvatsrs ofths Mississippi
to Seattle.
There d probably nothing connected
with railroad building that No Hill does
not know. He has mind which grasps .
subject In oil it, details, and he has made
such study OF railroads and railroad
management that he can tell today Just
how long each part Of one Of his engines
WIZ last and to . pound just the
amount Of work it will do. 4
Great Northern Of the life and work
Of each part Of every piece of machinery
connected with the road, and. though Hill
could probably not build an engine him.
oeIf venture he could direct the construc-
ton Of one. Not long ago he was in New
York, and during his stay there he con-
tracted for fifty-sevsn engines for his road.
These engines cost about $4,000 apiece.
and the contract represented considerable
money. In awarding he asked tor bids
from the different car works, and FIVE great
companies submitted bids and speci6ca-
tons. Their agents brought in these bids.
They were sealed, Of courDs. and Mr.. Hill
opened them IN the presence Of the
agents and looked them over. Altar
2 few moments his brows began to
knit, and at the end Of half an
something wrong abont these bids. You
have combined together in the making Of
them. and this 10 . put-up job. Now, I
want to tell you you cant do work for me
in that way, and you can take your bids
and yourselves out of the ROOM" And
with that he threw their papers TO them
and showed them the door. He then had
his own engineers draw mp specifications
Of just the kind of Locomotives he wanted,
and he went to the companies AID told
them II they wanted to bid honestly on
them they could do so, but he would have
nothing more to do with their agents, and
they must have honest bids or he would
send the work elsewhere.
At this same time, friend of his tells
me. Mr.. Hill went TO Tiffany's to buy
some jewels for his wife. He looked at .
very expensive piece of workmanship and
liked il, ard asked its cost. One Of tho
Tilfanys who was waiting upon him asked
him what he thought the cost would BE-,
and Mr.. Hill began to calculate. He told
the value and weight Of each stone, esti-
mated the cost of the workmanship, and
actual price. Tiffany says he is one of the
best judges Of precious stones in the
United States.
Ii 10 the same with his farming. He
knows al about stock raising. and he has
some of the finest stock in the United
States on his farm near here. This farm
contains about 1000 acres. II has more
am told, tell you the pedigree of any one
you may pick ont at . glance. and he
knows the record Of each COW. It 10 the
same with half dozen other branches Of
knowledge. and you cannot strike subject
on which he 10 not posted. He is man
of wide scientific reading, and he 10 one of
the best judges of pictures and ine arts in
gallery and can tell you the names
Of the artists Of any famous pic
lures that may be upon the walls,
and his house here is Just filled
with paintings by the great masters. He
has large art gallery connected with his
house, which is lighted from the roof and
which contains more fine modern paint
Gallery in Washington City. He has
four paintings by Millet. the famous
French painter; . number by Troyon, and
others BY Corot. Diaz. Muncacsky. Della
croix and others. Some of his paintings
cost $50, 900 apiece, and among others he
has . beautiful portrait Of one of his chill
dren by Bougereau. l doubt whether
country which has SO many fine pictures.
Hill's knowledge of his road is, I am
told, wonderful He knows personally
nearly every man employed upon it. and
he 10 liable to be found at any point along
the line at any moment. He has thor
ough civil service organization a. to his
employee; promotion goes entirely by
discharged instanter. An instance of this
was told me the other day by his son-in-
law, Samuel Hill, president of the Mon
tana Central. 1--WE were sitting one day, ["
said he, Tin Mr.. Hills house in st. Paul.
when he asked me if didn't want to 60
west for little trip. replied that /
didn't object and asked when he wanted
to 90; he said Right away and l there
upon telephoned to have my bag sent over
from Minneapolis, ana in the course of an
hour We were on his special train and GO
ing out to the far West. We stopped at q
point in the mountains in Montana. and
here got of the road and rode forty miles
by stage with relays ofs horses. We then
slept and rode forty miles further and
At pped ct . tavern. Mr.. Hill tramped
around all that day over the coun-
try and came back in the even
ing and had supper. After supper
he said, Il think We could reach the car II
We took the horses tonight. and We had
them harnessed mp and cut across to the
track. 1t vas . long ride and dark night,
and We came to the road at station above
the one which We had expected to strike.
Butte City was pulled in with flames burst
ing out of its side. As it pulled up at the
station Mr.. Hill saw it and his voice rang
out in the darkness:
Where's the conductor of this train 2
4" Here was the reply in . gruff voice.
"sWhat rate are you runningf
".About eighteen miles an hour said
the man, rather resenting the question.
".You are not telling the truth. replied
MI, Hill. You have been running over
thirty miles an hour, and your orders are
not to run more than twelve. You are dis
charged this instant, and l will have
another conductor to take your place.
When that conductor left Butte City Mr..
Hill Was sitting In his office in St. Paul,
and il must have scared the man almost to
death to find him away out here In the
heart of Montana"
IF p