The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-08-27
NILS GREAT PLANS.


When the Seattle & Montana railroad
was being bofgt b. President Hill. there
were two extreme opinions expressed.
One was that HiiI's purpose was TO make
a lot % money ~ selling the stock OF a
transcontinental lie eonstruetsa at conf
paratively small cost but with only pros
pectise earnings. and the other was that
he haa some grand scneme in view which
he kept 70 himself
The latter has long been seen 10 be the
correct version. AIr. Hin has already ac-
eonpliEed wonders in the FULLEST OF dull
times. When material was cheapest
and labor was plentiful because
Of the scarcity Of work, he
sIeHt millions In construction. and
SO secured a railroad at probably the
lowest cost per mile ever known under
like engineering conditions When men
were despondsns as 70 the future and
timid about investment. he saw far ahead.
inspired bis friends with hope and cour-
age and himself planned for the reaction
his Judgment calculated.
Mr. Hill is rot a sanguino man whose
rafural volatility floats him easily over
difficulties OF whose irresponsible
Standardization paints always
rosy future. He is calcu-
lating machine. lie knows moth
ing Of sentlEaent In business. Susceptible
as be Is to appeals to his own pocket he
never permits an invested nickel to be d.
verssd from It's duty OF making more nick
els. Yet statistics under hts master hand
become clothed With grace and the beau
81 OF power. They faseinake by the
symmetry in which he arranges them, and
the lie With which he inspires them. His
system becomes series of moving figures
evolving new designs and multiplying
themselves under his formulating mind.
The project of making a trans-continen-
.al railroad from the mills OF the lake
ports. and a trans-Pacihc steamship line
from Seattle TO the great Orient has been
hintsd at for long time. but now II seems
near realization. With road from Chi
cago to 81. Paul under control and the
operation OF the reads from ST. Paul west
so managed as TO afford profit with the
lowest possible freight rate. a formidable
railroad alliance is formed. The object Is.
of course. TO prevent ruinous competition.
and 10 minimize cost OF operation.
1t Is rather singular that just as the
interstate law and the pooling bin and
other measures In restriction OF trade had
been put into effect. reaction has set in.
and some OF those who were most vIo-
4.
are now insisting thai the coal operators
shall enter into an agreement 20 keep
prices up. II an agreement OF that kind
Is lawful and defensble when its object
Is 10 give better wages 10 labor. why
should 1t be unlawful and indefensible
when It's object Is to insure dividends to
stockholders7
This has no direct bearing on the pro-
posed alliance. but II has Indirectly. Pub
Tic opinion is powerful auxiliary and
no less troublesome foe. and II the inter-
ests az large Of this state are 20 be fos-
tered-as they undoubtedly viii be by Mr..
inns plans being successfal-this IS the
time 20 suggest 70 public opinion that It
would not be wise to ieopardiza the gem
erai welfare IN the special interest OF any
one class.
President I'M has rad 4 very hard task
20 perform IN engineering conditions 50
that wheat may be sold to Japan ana
china at = price lower than rice. 1t ean-
rot be done except hy tie most skiUfu!
economy. and Il Is not good policy to
harass him and block the progress OF his
plans hy petty objections. a small con-
ecssIon now may hasten the time when
this city shall be one OF the great ports
g the world.
The discriminating duty In favor o.
American shipping. whose great impor-
taaee Is not yet resliEed. means more 20
Seattle tAan 20 any port IN the United
states. Il Is as 4 grea, light had sud
aeBly been termed upen well-raat,gred
scene and made lss beauties visible
The Nippoa Nusea Kalsha Steamship
Company IS said 90 have the largest ness
sns the second largest tonnase rating os
sny steamship company 81 The world and
an shls service may BE- made coutr.oatosy
"a tho maritime business az Seatue. In
connection wfsA the transcontineutal raB-
rosa ssstem, shss eity may before many
wears become the Liverpool es the Amer
8eaa continent