The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-06-06
Mr.. HILL In PORTLAND
The President of the Great Northern
Railroad.
A GENERAL INTERVIEW
He Talks About Northern Pacific
Reorganization. Great North
ern, Oregon Navigation
and Steamboats,.
GENERAL INTERVIEW
From the Portland oregonian

From the Portland oregonian.
James J. Hill. president Of the Great
Northern railway line. arrived in the
city shortly before s o'clock last even
ing. He came in a private car drawn
by special engine over the o. r. &
N. Co, from Spokane and is accom-
panied by the members of his family
and his private secretary. Immediate
ly upon arriving at the terminal sta
ton the party left the car and went to
the Portland hotel, where apartments
were engaged for the stay in this city.
The members of Mr.. Hills family are
Mrs. Hill, and their children, Miss
Charlotte HILL Louis w. Hill and
Master w. j. Hill. C. Wellington
is the private secretary. While IL
was not known that Mr.. Hill would
reach this city either late last night
or some time during to-day. his ar
rival before dinner last evening Gre
ated considerable surprise to those
who were awaiting him. The party
arrived at Spokane Friday evening.
and Immediately started for this city.
spending most of yesterday in viewing
the wheat fields of Southeastern Wash
ington and the beauties of a trip along
the Columbia. This morning Mr.. Hill
Will meet Jacob II. Schiff, an eastern
banker. and stakeholder in the Great
Northern line. who will arrive here by
the Southern Pacific from San Fran
cisco. They will spend the day to-
gether in this city and leave for Pu-
get sound tonight or some time to-
morrow.
Mr.. Hill was seen at the Portland
hotel soon after his arrival by an Ore
gonian reporter. The great railroad
president was in a decidedly good hui
NOR and talked freely of his railroad,
his reported connection with the
Northern Pacific reorganization and
other interesting matters. Mr.. Hill is
a decidedly plain-spoken man. He does
not waste words, and when he talks
he conveys the impression that he
knows well his position. Ii is probable
that no person has visited this city I'm
a long time who attracted the atten-
ton Mr.. Hill did at the Portland last
evening. All eyes were turned on the
man who has given the newspapers so
much TO write about recently. Mr.. Hill
is not only a fine-looking man, but he
has a very attractive personality. He
might be termed magnetic in the
same way that the expression was
fastened TO Mr.. Blaine. He is about
so years of age, has black eyes and
dark hair. and beard slightly tinged
with gray, and seems to enjoy rugged
health.
Mr.. Hin was asked If it were true.
as had been published. that he was
about to assume control of the North
ern Pacific.
The Northern Pacific will be reor-
gained" replied the railroad presi-
dent. slowly. 1T will be reorganized
and placed on a sound basis. This is
about all 1 know about it
"Will you have the management of
the road after its reorganization"
Il don't want TO talk about that; l
will have nothing to say, further than
the Northern Pacific will be reorgan-
lied and placed on sound financial
basis replied Mr.. Hill. not evasively.
but pointedly.
when the Northern Pacific is reor-
ganized," he continued. lit will be a
great help to all the states between
oregon and Minnesota. along the line
of the road. Foreign capital can't help
looking with suspicion upon invest
ments in a country through which
bankrupt railroad passes. Put the road
on a sound financial basis and there
will DC renewed confidence in securities
all along the line. The Northern Pa
cific is a splendid piece of property.
and II properly managed, will do Won
ders for this part of the country"
Mr. Hill would not deny or affirm the
report that he was to assume the man.
agement and control of the Northern
Pacific. From the tone of his converse
ton however, the impression might be
drawn that he has no intention of gain
ing control OF the road, and has helped
only to reorganize II.
When asked If he had any intention
of securing control of the O. r. a n.
Co. Mr. Hill replied i'm the negative
Il have never had the slightest idea of
even trying 10 secure control of the o.
II. & n. company" he said, with some
spirit My trip over the line at this
time is made for the purpose of looking
at the country. l wanted TO come TO
Portland. and preferred TO travel over
the lines we ave such close traffic re-
lations with. / have beeh over this
route before, but IL was some years ago
and | notice considerable change in the
country. There is a great deal more
acreage under cultivation in the Pa
louise and Walla Walla country. The
wheat fields look beautiful. too. at this
! time Of the year
Mr. Hill has always been an enthusi-
| asst over agriculture, and IL is very easy
! To divert his attention from railroads 10
/ wheat fields. Returning 10 the -. II. *
| y. company rumors. Mr.. Hin said:
The q. Il. X y. company has "a pc
| culiar field of its own. There are two
| branches. as you well know. one of
| them connects with the Great Northern
| at Spokane. and gives an opportunity
10 reach Portland. The other branch