The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-02-11
Mr.. HILL GETS BACK
GREAT NORTHERN PRESIDENT
WOULDN'T DIGNITY NEW YORK
RUMORS WITH DENIAL
ABOUT RUMORED EXTENSIONS.
N MORE RAILROADS THIS
YEAR.
ABOUT RUMORED EXTENSIONS.
Not Very Encouraging Now AIthO'
Iowa and Wisconsin Seem to De
Fairly Prosperous.

James J. Hill returned yesterday
morning from a three weeks trip to
New York, Washington and other East
ern financial and political centers.
During his absence In New York and
probably as a result of his frequent
visits to Wall street, the rumor that he
a again made an attempt to gain
control of the Northern Pacific sprang
into life. 1t has been intimated in
Eastern dispatches that Mr.. Hill gained
sufficient interest in Northern Pacific
securities to prevent that road from en-
tering at any time into dangerous hos
tilities with the Great Northern. To
all this. Mr.. Hill makes the usual re-
ply. Seen by a reporter for the G | o b e
yesterday, Mr.. Hill said:
Il do not care to dignity his talk
with another denial. 1 have not seen
a Northern Pacific man, have not look
ed at Northern Pacific paper, or in
VeStlgated Northern Pacific matters
during my absence. That is all there
is Of that"
Asked concerning the report from
New York that the construction Of the
Fosston extension to Duluth would be
undertaken this summer, Mr.. Hill said:
II suppose that matter has been
definitely decided upon twenty-five
times during the last three years by
the newspapers. We are not building
any more railroads this year You
have no idea Of the condition of bust
ness on the railroads." Mr.. Hill also
denied the statement that the Great
Northern would build UP into the
K%ootenai mining district.
Mr. Hill oon Gryoo al 4ho 1tofopoo-4 4La4
the Northern Pacific, Great Northern
n the Union Pacific had made a
joint agreement for the control Of the
Oregon Railway & Navigation COM
pany's ines in Oregon and Washing
ton, but declined. to give any facts re-
garding the nature Of the agreement.
h Oregon railway is a very valuable
| property and taps some rich territory.
In speaking Of finances, Mr.. Hill did
not take an encouraging view Of the
situation. He said that Western bonds,
whether private or public, could not
be sold in the East, particularly those
of Nebraska and Kansas. Brokers will
not listen to any proposition looking
toward their sale.
There are absolutely no investments
being made liz Mr.. Hill, 'in the
West. The laws of many of the states
n the system of running business is
largely responsible for it. Minnesota
is beginning to feel the suspicion which
is attaching to her banking and fnan-
cial systems.
But look at Wisconsin or Iowa. Both
are prosperous states and lying on the
| very borders of Minnesota. All the
factories are busy, and all the mills are
running. The farmers are successful,
n there is a feeling Of security in
the East in these two states. There
is no reason why the same condition
canno exist in Minnesota"
Mr.. Hill believed the new immigra-
ton laws before congress would work
a great evil to the Northwest and
especially Minnesota. The restriction
of immigration would force the farmer
to ultimately depend upon the Iramps
and hoboes to work during harvest
time.