The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1895-06-02
LOCAL RAILROADERS
Give Some Ideas on the Great
Northern.
HILL AND HAMMOND ARE
Well Acquainted to Say the Least
And straws Point Towards the
Combination.

In view Of the reports mlde In thes'
columns several days ago the tohowinS
condensed from yesterdays Oregonlan,
will be Of particular interest;
James j. Hill, president OF the Great
Northern system of railroads, is ex>
pected to arrive in this city next Mon.
day morning with a party Of friends.
Mr. Hill will meet Mr.. Jacob H. Schin,
a prominent London banker, In Portland.
Mr.. Schfff is In San Francisco, and VIII
reach Portland Saturday of Sunday morn
ing. He is travelling in Mr.. Hilps palatal
palace car, the "A-1." Mr.. Schin Is one
OF the largest shareholders OF Great
Northern stock, and his visit to the
Northwest is supposed to be made In
connection with ans Inspection or tne
road. Mr.. Hill lent st. Paul yesterday,
and will arrive in Spokane tomorrow
evening. on Saturday morning he VIII
start down the o. r. and N. CO.'S line
to this city, and will arrive here some
time during the night or early morning.
"Mr. Hill's western trip, taken so soon
after his return from Europe has Civ n
rise to the impression that It has some
connection with the o. r. and N. Co.
His journey over the line from Spokane
to Portland, and his meeting In this city
with the London banker, has set rail-
road circles on a tiptoe of expectancy.
Mr.. Hill has no immediate interests In
Portland, with the exception Of a traffic
agreement with the O. II. and N. Co. II
has been urgsd all along by railroad men
who claim to be familiar with the situa-
ton, that the o. II. and n. Co. Is q
most advantageous piece OF property for
Mr. Hill, and Hill knows It. He might
gain control OF the Northern Pacific,
but the o. r. and N. would be more
profitable piece of property for the Grea,
Northern to acquire.
"a prominent railroad man who has
recently visited st. Paul, Is authority Tor
the statement that Mr.. Hill, during his
recent trip to Europe. had more money
off red him for investment than any one
railroad man has ever before been ten
dered.
"In Conversation with an Oregonian
reporter yesterday, he said
"'A Great Northern official, who Is a
good friend of mine, told me while was
in st. Paul that Mr.. Hill had been ten
dered $l5,OOO,OOO for inv, ,stment from one
source. He said he get his information
from quarter that could not be ques-
toned, Whether Mr.. Hill brought this
money with him from Europe, or VIII tn
ar he used II In consummltlng the
Northern Pacific deal, Is not knowI
The fact remains, however, that Mr.
Hill appears prosperous and ready I.
take charge Of other roads than his own
while competing lines are bankrupt"
"Mr. Hin seems to have special factult.
for association with great bankers. Abou,
one year ago Mr.. j. d. Ryder, one ol
the managing officers OF the banking
house of Messrs. Coutts & Co... OF Lon
don and New York. went east in Mr.
HITS private car from Seattle. A few
months later Mr.. Henry w. Cannon
| president Of the Chase National bani
of New York, one Of the leading financla
houses OF America, made a Western tril
in company with Mr.. Hill. Later Mr.
| Edward C. Tuck manager Of the grel
banking house Of Monroe & Co. OF Paris
made Western trip with Mr.. Hill. Nov
comes Mr. Schiff, the London banker"
With the o. II. & N. Co. In his pos
session Mr. Hin would hold the con
troll Of the western railway situation.
| A prominent railroad man In the cit,
! yesterday, when shown the aboYe item
stated that he knew that It was rumore
In certain quarters THAT Mr.. Hill wa
| figuring on, and very anxious to obtain
the o. r. e. N. line, and that no doub
the stockholders of that company wouli
be glad to make an advantageous a
with Mr. Hill. The road Is worth NOR
to the Great Northern than to any othe
road, and the Great Northern Is the onl!
road able Ito acquire new property. Tn
same gentleman remarked that shoul,
! the Hlll-Nor.hern Pacifc-O II. & N
deal be contaminated the Astoria-G Gobl
road would be In much better CONNER
clal position than with mere connec
| tion with the Northern Pacific. Tn
Astoria road must and will have q trans
continental connection. Whether Hi
would become the owner OF the Astorl
road Is problamatlcal. but the very bes
traffic agreements would be made an
| Mr.. Hill is In hearty sympathy with tn
Astoria project; that gentleman and MI
| Hammond being the best OF friends. Tn
| gentleman further stated that on IN
| question OF rates II would be founi
when the line. was built that the sam
rates would be made from the interior @
wheat 20 Astoria as are made to Pori
land, placing this port on an equalit
with other ports on the ocast.
| Another gentleman, a well known rall
| road contractor, whose partner Is clos
to Mr.. Hammond, states THAT he know
that Mr. Hill Is In close touch with MI
Hammond and thoroughly in sympath
with the Astoria road, and that ne has n
doubt but that the Great Northern an
Mr.. Hlll will be found to be largely IN
ter6sted in the reorganization Of bot
the Northern Pacific and o. X. & N.
Mr.. Hammond will come west as SOC
as he can leave his daughter. whose ur
expected illness prevented his being her
as was expected.
When Mr. Hammond arrives there nun
be no failure on the part OF Astoria /
meet its obligations. And there does NJ
seem TO be any chance OF failure accord
Ing TO the latest reports from the con
mittee. The citizens have made UP the
minds not 10 lore this one opportunity {
a transcontinental railroad connectio