Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-12-22
HILLS MOVEMENTS.
Speculation Rife in Railroad Circles
In Regard to Northern Pacific.

III heRhIu 10 NOrtnefn IuClnC'
New York, Dec. 22.-The Herald
says James ]. Hill, president OF the
Great Northern Railway Co., has ar
rived In this city and was In confer
ence last evening with some OF the
most important capitalists Of the coun-
try. representing Morgan, Vanderbilt
and Standard oil interests
Mr.. Hllls presence in the city Is re-
garded as Of peculiar interest In view
Of the recent stock market activity in
Northern Pacific, with the accompany
ing reports OF a readjustment OF the
capitalization OF that company, and
his recent election also to the director
ate Of the Erie railroad, the shares OF
which have also been exceedingly act
i've In the market
From inquiries II appears that Mr..
HIS visit Is Of a special nature and
viii be brief Attempts made to see
Mr. Hin proved unayaillng, as were
also attempts to reach other prominent
fnancers Identified closely with such
properties as the Great Northern,
Northern Pacific, Chicago, Milwaukee
& 81, Paul and the Erie roads
Harmony of interest ana community
Of ownership Is the bee In every Wall
street bonnet at present and the sug-
gestion 10 made that this theory may
be extended 10 properties which, while
not recently regarded as disturbing
factors might become 80 In hands other
than those now representing the control.
Among such properties are the Chi
cago, Milwaukee & St Paul and the
Erie railroads The latter, II is said,
has great potentialties, particularly
10 a "A N n
Coal company and seems likely to as
sumo an important position among the
trunk lines.
II Is asserted upon the very best au-
thority that the three principal stock
holders In the great Northern railway
namely: James j. Hill, John s. Ken
needy and Lord Strathcona-are now
the three largest stockholders Of the
Northern Pacific road. Lord Strath-
coma and Mr.. Kennedy were formerly
directors In the Great Northern. The
former Is a director and a member Of
the executive committee of the Canadi-
an Pacific and Is OF great influence In
Canadian affairs.
II appears as though harmony Of in
terest In the Northwest Is now complete
through these great interests and those
Of Mr.. Morgan in these properties,
Great Northern, Northern Pacific and
Canadian Pacific.
In view OF this situation Mr.. Hllps
election 20 the directorate or the Erie
road IL OF considerable significance
The stock OF the Chicago Milwaukee
has been steadily acquired by power
ful interests not far removed from
those that have recently bought into
the Northern Pacific.
One peculiar fact is that while the
stock, selling at a relatively high price
and bought presumably for investment
or In furtherance of some great plan,
Is being picked up continually, II is
now being transferred on the books OF
the company. This leads 10 the belief
that II IL being gathered In for some
great purpose 10 be made clear later
on.
BY persons we'll Informed on the rail-
road situation, Il is said that a trihe
more than one-half the common stock
OF the st. Paul road Is represented In
the board OF directors. II Is said also
that this Is not necessarily a fixed IN
tereet. and that some one large holder.
the Standard OIL, for instance. uniting
with the. new purchasers, who may for
Illustration be assumed 90 be James
J Hin, John r. Kennedy and J. Pier
pont Morgan & Co.. the latter OF whom
already has considerable holding
might give absolute control OF that
property.
In well-informed banking circles the
belief prevails that the great announce
ment to be made In railroad circles IN
cluees this proposition.
Entire harmony OF interest In the
Northwest between the Great Northern,
Northern Pacific and Canadian Pacific,
and through community OF ownership
an arrangement with the St Paul road
IN the middle section and the Erie rail-
road 10 tidewater the eastern outlet 10
De used In much the same manner as
The Lake Shore and New York Central
are by the Northwestern and the
Union Pacific.
mat N aAastian 70 this sazeethips u