The Ravalli Republican. [volume] (Stevensville, Mont.) 1894-1899, 1897-03-03
HILL IN lIIL CONTROL.
NOrthcrn Pacific and Great Northern No
Longer Competitors.

Northern Pacific and Great Northern No
Longer Competitors.
Helena, Mont, Feb. 25.--J. ].
Hill has at last gotten absolute con-
troll of the Northern Pacific, in spite
OF the many tclcgraphic accounts TO
the contrary. This unqualified
statement is made upon absolute
knowledge and no l,carsay comments
or street rumors. 1t comes from an
individual whose integrity is unqucs-
tionablc and who is in position to
know whereof he speaks. While it
is impossible to divulgc the name Of
this individual it is sufficient to say
he is closely connected with the
present management of the North
ern Pacific and knows at all times
what transpircs. An attempt is be-
ing made to keep the fact that Mr..
Hill has gotten control Of the road
from the press and for the reason
that there arc several legislatures in
session in the states through which
the two systems pass. Should it be-
come known that Hill has the North
crn Pacific it is feared that these
legislatures might pass laws making
it utterly impossible for the two Sys-
tens to be controlled or influenced
in their management by any person
or persons connected with both.
When these legislatures have adj
journcd and there is no further fear
Of adverse legislation in this direc-
tion che whole thing will be given tC
the public The Northern Pacific
official says there is but one way tc
defeat this consolidation. and that is
by getting the Burlington road tc
build through Montana and on to tho
coast and buck the two roads by
competition.
Hill is not liked throughout tho
west and the Northern Pacific and
Burlington systems are used by ship
pcrs when it is possible. Tie feel
ing for Hill will only be intensified
when it becomes known he has tho
two roads and the Burlington vii;
reap the benefit. A meeting Of The
leading men Of the burlington ha:
been called to made the necessary
arrangement for the extending o.
the Burlington road and they vii
meet in Butte on March ,. This
fact is not generally known and the
meeting was called after it had beer
known positively that Hill had tht
two systems under his control. Day
before yesterday a survcu ( gam
was sent out from But:ty beldc in
stance of the Burli'" w o., lool
after a good route tIil os,l Tho
| state.
The Northern Pacific official say:
that ill got control of the railroat
by getting people whom he could in
Gucncc to buy up the Northern paci
dc stock until;inkets. gotten hole
Vi pc q eight, onlyou ls the Hae''tot yotn
Of airs extra L
When asked concerning these III
mors Speaker Kennedy Of the hous
and President Spriggs Of the scnat
both admitted that they had hear
Of these rumors. only from those 0!
the inside, and thought they ha
arisen from the newspaper talk il
dulged in within the past few days
Although the name OF the informan
of the above statements cannot b
revealed, the above statements ar
absolutely authentic and time wi
. prove them.
: Tacoma, Wash, Feb. 25.-1t
stated here on good authority tina
President Hill, Of the Great Nortl
| ern. is about to purchase half Of til
stock Of the Tacoma Land compan,
S which owns the largest part Of TIL
/ unsold Tacoma toWnsitc, and sc
: acres of tide lands, which will |
? needed ultimately for railroad tc
c minals. This is taken to ind
: cate Hills plan to secure
t Joint or sympathetic operation Of IT,
], two roads will sooner or later be pl
c into operation. The result will be
c secure the use by the Great NortAcl
q Of the Northern pacilc's tunn
t through the Cascades and termima
c ut Tacoma, including the deep wat
c docks, 120 miles Of side tracks al
y the largest car shops in the Yves
q when cost the road ST 900, 900. Th
c would save the Great Northern +;
S expense Of several millions for borl
l. a new tunnel and duplicating tern
c nails on its own line.