The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-09-21
What Will President Hill Do With
the Baltimore E 0hio7
OPINIONS or RAILROAD MEN.
onnx the CenaeetfnG Link Between
%. Pao1 and Chicago Now Mis~-
inx-To Establish = Trsnse"nstp-
entail Road Might mean serious
IntervteUs which widely DfAer.

The announcement from the East that the
Baltimore Il Ohio has passed into the con-
troll of President J. J. Hi Of the Great
Northern. and may become the eastern
end OF great transeontinsntsi roufe, mas
sauzea much discussion among local raj
road officials The general opinion ss about
evenly divided "a to the truth OF the state
meuss. None doubt ina, Mr.. Hill has got
ten the baltimore Il Ohio. bu; sone do
uueg;tor that his purpose is 10 maize a
continuous road from the Pacific TO the
Atlantic.
There was, however. one mar seen yester-
day. whose opinion il worthy OF the highest
consideration and WAC In thoroughly rea-
able, who believes the reports are true
said BE yesterday:
Il think every statement you have pub
usaed Ia true. and that Seattle VIII ScGn
be the western terminus o. the greatest
railroad SYSTEM, In po.nt CT miles. III the
world. There Ia every reasop for Believing
so, and very few 10 the CONTRARY. Mr. Hill
has been figuring for years 20 get trans
continental route. He IL a great friend OF
the West, and has a high opinion Of Seat
tle's future. The juncture Of these two
great lines. taking liz Baltimore, Phs!adei-
ph!a and New York for III. eastern ternlini.
touching at all the leading intermediate
cities. including Sc. Louis. Chicago, ST.
Paul. Minneapolis and Duluth, and cover
ing the richest commercial. agricultural
and grazing belts on the continent would
do more for Seattle than any other move
ment on earth. II would give this city a
vast amount Of advertising and make 1t the
only place on maps Of the Northwest.
Talk of Eastern competition soaring Mr..
Hi. Is all nonsense. I do not know what
road between St. Paul and Chicago VII be
the connecting link, but one will be secured.
and II the other lines between those points
institute rate war 1t will be at their peril.
Mr.. Hill would only have 10 slash with his
three magnificent steamers running on the
Great Lakes from Duluth TO Buffalo to
break the backs Of them all 1t will take
tao or three months TO get the reorganiza-
ton Of the Il. f. o. completed. and fully
that long 20 perfect the amalgamanon OF
tho two lines"
Another prominent railroad man said: II
do not think there IL anything In the re-
ports about there being a traneeontinentai
Ine nor about Mr.. Hill's having anything
to do with the matter. He may hare beeh
chosen to take the Baltimore A Ohio and
put II on Its feet. for all recognize his grea,
ability. The Great Northern has passed
through The terrible period Of recelvershps
uHHcanisd. and It's head may We'll be Sc
aectsd to help out the great Eastern thor
Gugnlare But as TO "A transconfinental
line, IL wou,d not be feasible. In the frs,
place. 1t would not bring a particle more
besiness to the Sound and would not heir
Seattle. This Is now the best advertised
city in the country
Mr. Hill. as all other railroad men. rec
ognizes the disaster sure to result from ar
attempt 20 control the business from, St
Paul and Minneapolis 10 Chicago. and II
he should attempt thing OF tina, sort II
would bring on the opposition Of the other
nse lines. which could not be met by the
one. His steamers on the lakes might com
pete In the Summer but there Is the long
season from the middle OF November to the
latter part of April when the lakes are
frozen over. and then be would more than
forfeit all he had gained in the other
season.