The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1900-12-23
HILL IN NEW YORK.
President Of Great Northern In Confer
ence With Important Capt.
talists.

NEW YORK. Dec. 22.-The Herald
says:
James ]. Hill. president Of the Great
Northern Railway Company. has ar
rived in this city and was in conference
last evening with some Of the most i'm
portant capitalists Of the country. rep
resenting Morgan. Vanderbilt and STAN
dard Oil interests.
Mr.. Hills 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 directorate
of the Erie railroad. ;he ehares OF
which have also been extraordinarily
active in the market.
From inquiries it appears that Mr..
Hill's visit is Of a special nature and
win be brief Attempts made to see
Mr.. Hill proved unavailing. as were al
so attempts to reach other prominent
financiers identified closely with such
as the Great Northern. Chi
cago. Milwaukee & St. Paul. Northern
Pacific and the Erie roads.
Harmony Of interest and G. immunity
Of ownership is the bee in every Wall
street bonnet at present and the sug-
gestion is made that this theory may be
extended to properties which, while not
recently regarded as disturbing factors.
might become so in hands other than
those now representing the control
Among such properties are the Chica-
go, Milwaukee G. ST. Paul. and the Erie
railroads. The latter. 1t is said, has
great potentialltles. particularly since II
has acquired the Pennsylvania Coal
Company and seems likely to assume an
important position among the trunk |
lines.
1t is asserted upon the very best |,
that the three principal I
in the Great Northern |
Railway-namely, James ]. Hill. John |
S. Kennedy and Lord strathcona-are |
now the three largest stockholders Of
the Northern Pacific road. Lord |
and Mr.. Kennedy were for
merly directors in the Great Northern.
The former is a director and a member
Of the executive committee Of the Ca i,
madam Pacific and is Of great influence
In Canadian affairs.
1t 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, the
Great Northern, Northern Pacific and !
Canadian Pacific.
In view Of this situation, Mr. Hills !
election to the directorate Of the Erie |
road is Of considerable significance. The
stock Of the Chicago. Milwaukee &
st. Paul has been steadily acquired by
powerful 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 invest
nent or in furtherance Of some great
plan. is being picked up continually, It
s nov being transferred on the books
Of the company. This leads to the be-
lief that 1t is being gathered in for
some great purpose to be made clear
ater on.
By persons well informed on the
railroad situation it is said that tri-
He more than one-half Of the combi-
nation stock Of the St. Paul road is rep
resented in the board Of directors It |
Is said also that this is not necessarily
a fixed interest and that some one large
holder. the Standard Oil, for instance,
uniting with the new purchasers, who
may for illustration be assumed to be
James ]. Hill. John S. Kennedy and |
]. Pierpont Morgan & Company, the !