The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1895-08-01
Is the Question That Is Agitat.
ing Jim Hill.
WHETHER HE WILL CONTROL
Northern Pacific by Consolidation Is
to Be Disputed by Montana
Oregon on the Alert.

Inc recent teleSrapnlc correspondence
relative to the proposed consolidation of
the Northern Pacific and Great Northern
railroads is more or less conflicting and
misleading and calls for careful study
by all. The interests served by each line
are both identical and diverse. Identical
in that they are both transcontinentai
lines reaching many of the same western
termini. Diverse because the local inter-
ests subserved exist under different con-
6itlons. What Is essential to a. commun-
ity on one line does not enter into con-
sldsration on the other The towns on the
Northern Pacific are all older and we'll
established in business, while on the
Great Northern these conditions are en-
tirely lacking. At the common points
in the interior and on the coast business
interests are complex and diversified,
both In the town itself and In its rela-
tions to other territory. The policy of
the one road, as at present pursued, is
quite different from that of the other
and various interests have grown up in
different localities, based on the one or
the other policy, both on local and com-
petitive business, Consolidate two such
systems of roads and the complexlty of
business win be inextricabay confused
and hopelessly entangled and great in
justice Is certain to follow in many
cases. Competition will be wiped out.
1t was thought short time ago when
President Hill of the Great Northern
was here and he contemplated acquiring
control of the o. r. & N. and making
that part Of the proposed combination
system. 1t was argued, and with rea-
son, that such combination would
be Of bensfit to Oregon, and THAT with
Hill's present support to the recently
established Oriental line of steamers to
Portland he would naturally make the
port Of the Columbia the terminus OF his
new line of steamers which he contem-
plates building for the Oriental traffic,
and dsAs.Hhat he would utilize the
o.. r. & NJ. and, Northern. Pacific in the
furtherance of such a scheme. Recent
dispatches from New York and Portland
give color to such a supposltion. Mr.. Hill
Is now In New York and II is known that
he recently consulted with Receiver Me-
Neill, Of the o. II. & N, in st. Paul. rela-
tive to the handling Of Great Northern
freight, via Spokane, over the o. r. &
N. In largely increased consignments, and
1t is stated that Mr.. Hill was shaping
his plans for the early establishment of
his steamship line between Portland and
Astoria and the Orient. The following
kilograms would indicate that Hill is
confident of SUGGEST
New York, Special, July A.-President
Hill today insisted that there was moth
Ing 20 be said concerning the negotiations
for a union of the interests of the North
ern Pacific and Great Northern, further
than that they were progressing salts
factorlly. Mr.. Hill and Col. Clough were
busy today examining into the details OF
the matter and seeing various persons
interested. Mr.. Hin was in conference
with ]. Plerpont Morgan and u. d.
Adams, and will probably be in frequent
consultation with these gentlemen this
week. 1t is learned on good authority
that a way has been found to carry out
the London plan which is perfectly salts,
factory to Mr.. Morgan and that the de-
tails are now being worked out Until
all i5 satisfactorily arranged, however,
nothing will be made public"
New York, Special, July 25.-It is ex-
pected by the magnates of the Northern
Pacific and the Great Northern railroad
companies that some sort of an arrange,
ment In their affairs can be errived at
before the end of this week. ]. j. Hill
Is holding daily consultations with the
New York representative, Jacob II. Schiff
OF Kuhn, Loeb & Co., and today these
men consulted with Edward ID. Adams,
chairman OF the Northern Pacific Consoll-
dated Mortgage Bondholders' committee.
Brayton Ives of the Western National
bank, who was not present at the con-
ference, said this afternoon: 1T Is all
talk, talk, talk. Affairs stand just as
they have all along. There is no new de-
velopment. This does not mean that
there is nothing that can be spoken Of;
there Is absolutely no knew development
at ALL When asked about a certain
law OF Minnesota, which, as Mr.. Adams
recently discovered. forbids the guaran-
tee OF Northern Pacific's new bonds by
the Great Northern company. Mr.. Ives
said there was talk OF organizing new
company In New Jersey and thus get
ting around the technicalty OF the law,
but that he did not think much of the
scheme. Mr.. Schfff said: The situation
rs In statu quo and that is really all
there is to be said obout It, Another con.
ference will likely be held, at which J.
p. Morgan will be present. Mr.. Morgan
is under promise to carry out the UNDER
writing Of the plan when finally agreed
upon"
Careful study of the situation, and In
terviews with those In O. position to
know whereof they speak reveals the fact
that should Hill gain control Of the
Northern Pacific through consolidation
with the Great Northern 1t would not be
to the advantage OF Oregon, as WAS
pointed out when the matter was first
talked of. His main object In acquiring
Northern Pacific Is to avoid the 'construc-
tlon Of an expensive tunnel through the
Cascade mountains. This once accom-
plished. whether the o. II. & N. was Sc
cwed or not, there is little prospect that
he would ever utilize the Portland route
as his main hne--his inteIes are too
large and varied on the Sound to permit