Daily inter mountain., 1900-12-22
GREAT COMBINE
ALL NORTHWESTERN RAILROADS
PRACTICALLY AS ONE.
STOCK HELDBY THE SAME MEN.
Canadian and Northern Pacific, and
Great Northern, United With
Eastern Outlet.

New York, Dec. 22.-The Herald says:
James J. Hill. president of the Great
Northern Railway company, mas arrived
in this city and was in conference last
evening with some of the most import
ant capitalists of the country. represent
ing Morgan, Vanderbilt and the stand
ard Oil interests. Mr.. Hills presence Ill
the city Is regarded as of peculiar inter
est in view of the recent stock market
activity in Northern Pacific. with re-
ports of a readjustment of the capital
ization of the company. ana ms recent
election to the directorate of the Erie
shares. which have been exceedingly ac-
tive in the market. 1t appears that Mr..
Hills visit is of a special nature and
will be brief. Attempts made to see Mr..
Hill proved unavailing. as We're also eff
forts to see other prominent tinanciers
identified closely with such properties as
the Great Northern, Northern Pacific,
Chicago. Milwaukee & St. Paul and the
Erie The harmony of interests is sug-
gested as the cause of the gathering
Among such properties are the chi
cago. Milwaukee & St. Paul and Erie
railways. The latter, it is said, has
great potentialities. particularly since II
has acquired the Pennsylvania Coal COM
pany and seems likely to assume an inn
portant posi- ton among the trunk lines.
1t is asserted upon the best authority
that the three principal stockholders in
the Great Northern. namely. James J.
Hill John S. Kennedy and Lord Strath-
coma, are now the three largest STOCK
holders of the Northern Paclhc road.
Lord Strathcona and Mr.. Kennedy We're
formerly directors in the Great North
ern. The former is director and
- tI,r, owe committee
the Canadian Pacific and is of great in
tluence in Canadian affairs. II appears
as though harmony Of interest in the
northwest is now in sight through the
great interests-the Great Northern,
Northern Pacific and Canadian Pacific.
In view Of this situation, Mr. Hills Sc
lection to the directory Of the Erie IS
significant. The stock Of the Chicago.
Milwaukee & St. Paul has been steadily
acquired by persons not far advanced
from those who have recently bought
into the Northern Pacific The belief
prevails that the stock is being gathered
in for some great purpose, to be made
clear later on.
By persons well informed on the rail-
road situation, it is said that tritie
more than one-half of the common stock
of the ST. Paul road is represented In
the board of dlrec tors. II is Salu dlSo
that this is not necessarily a fixed IN
terest and that some one large holder.
the Standard Oil for instance. uniting
with the new purchasers, who may Tor
illustration be assumed to be James j.
Hill. John r. Kennedy and J. Pierpont
Morgan & Co., the latter of whom al
ready has a considerable holding, might
give absolute control of that property.
In we'll informed banking circles the
| belief prevails that the great announce"
ment to be made in raill'oad circles IN
/ cludes this proposition: Entire harmony
! of interest in the northwest between the
/ Great Northern. Northern Pacific ano
/ Canadian Pacific, and through COM
mun.ty of ownership an arrangement
with the st. Paul road in the middle
section and the Erie railway to tide.
! water, the eastern outlet to be used II
/ much the same manner as the Lake
! Shore and New York Central are by the
/ Northwestern and the Union Pacific
| That in addition to this, something l.
to be done IN the line of readjustmen
of the Northern Pacific securities is tht
| belief in Wall street. In connection Will
the matter, various plans have been sug
| gested, and the price movement give
| evidence that something of the kind i
under consideration