The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-12-26
in his career has only fxed this conclu
sion more firmly in my mind.
THE MANITOBA SYSTEM

THE MANITOBA SYSTEM
The Canadian Pacific was being rapidly
pushed across the northwestern Canadian
plains. Though Hills intimate association
with r. B. Angus and Donald A. Smith-the
latter since created Lord Strathcona, he
acquired a large block OF stock in this ag-
gressive company, and for several months
he eXerted a good deal OF influence Ia its
management. He IL was who sent A. Il.
Stickney. w. G. Van Horne and ]. NJ. Egan
in turn 10 Winnipeg general managers
OF the company. But he awoke 10 the fact
one day in 1885 that with the Canadian Pa
cifc on the north and the Northern Pacific
on the SOuth-bOth transCOntnental lines
he would have 10 get move on him II he
was to save the Manitoba" system from
being corked up and left high and dry .
mere local feeder for the other two And
as IL has always been his policy to act when
he realized the time had come for action, he
Immediately began figuring on extending
the Manitoba system 10 the coast He had
risen 10 the presidency by this time, ana
his private fortune Was estimated at SlO.-
100000. His sometime fine mansion at the
corner of Ninth and Rosabel streets had be-
come too cramped for the needs OF fast
increasing family. and Lower Town was
beginning TO lose its old-time exclusive
ness, with the passing OF the ancient
regime. with H II. Sibley as dean As
these old-tlme mansions were deserted by
the heirs OF the builders and were given
over TO a mixed population of boarding
housekeepers, Mr.. Hill decided that IL was
llIc 10 ktdNG. i lnlnk, II ne COulu nave
taken the old homestead bodily 10 the sum-
nit Of st. Anthony hill he would have done
so, for here he had known the happipest
moments of his life. All his children were
born here. and his most ambitious plans
had their inception and were matured with
in its loved precincts. He purchased large
plot of ground on the most eligible site on
Summit avenue and built upon IL one OF the
most substantial and magnificent private
residences in the world. representing as II
does to-day with its splendid gallery OF
paintings and statuary, an investment OF
nearly 100000. 1 think be has lived in the
brown stone palace for about seven years,
and in that time princes of finance, presi-
dents. foreign travellers OF distinction and
social leaders of every land have been en-
tertained within its gorgeous apartments,
and with one accord they have voiced uni
versal sentiment of wonder. admiration and
delight. The Ninth-street house was razed
when the Summit-avenue palace was COM
pleted.
Now, il would seem that a man who can
accomplish what J. j. Hill has accom-
plished, unaided by education, influence or
social status In his youth, must possess
some potent attribute unknown 10 other
less fortunate mortals. Without art educa-
ton, he discusses the merits, intelligently,
of a COrot. a Meissonier or a Millet with
the address of a connoisseur; without early
literary training, he will confidently and
creditably go over the classics with Yale
or Harvard professor of literature. Where
did he acquire this varied knowledge?
There can be but one answer under the cir
cumstances-by reading. by observation
and travel ana Dy pumping the Otner lei
low. And so IL seems truism after all
that the best part OF our education is ac-
quired after leaving school. Ii has certain
ly been the fact in Hills case.
A GREAT UNDERTAKING
When he had decided on pushing the road
through to the coast he started at 1t with
his usual invincible determination. At this
time the road was being operated from st.
Paul to Minot, 529 miles, leaving 1924 miles
some of il presenting seemingly insurmount-
able difficulties. Mr.. Hill went TO New York
in search of capital for construction work.
and almost any other man would have
thrown up his hands in despair at the re-
ceptiOn he met Ii may readily be under
stood that Northern Pacific interests. which
were quite influential in Wall street. OPP
posed him most heartily, and were quite
willing to welcome his ambitions with hos
pitabe hands TO bloody grave. The
Canadian Pacific people, with whom he
was formerly allied, readily saw what the
construction of the Great Northern TO the
Pacific coast meant for them and the ORR
entail trade, which they had monopolized
up to that time. There was no hope of
securing government aid or government
subsidies in the way of bonds, and so, with
every possible hostile interest arrayed
against him, he started TO push the road
to Puget sound. How well he succeeded
is known, Of course, TO all the world. IL
was not a paying proposition either for
many a weary month after the last rail was
u.
or two.
One would think. with this great task
completed and with personal fortune or
more than S40,000.0 900, Hill would have been
content to go away back in his office and
sit down and take ii easy. Not so. He
made but one concession, and that was TO
let the heads of departments run their de-
partments without his personal supervi-
sion. He had been for the past twenty
years everything from president down 10
track walker His personal influence was
felt in every department, and employees OF
every grade have trembled at his frown
for more than a score of years. Hated,
feared and admired in turn, but never
loved his coming aroused the trembling
anticipations his going caused signs OF
/ relief on every hand. Despotic, almost
| tyrannical his whole policy seemed 10
| center on the strictest economy OF man
! agement. To make the Great Northern a
! power in the world II must earn and pay
/ dividends. This necessitated the reduction
| of operating expenses, almost to the dan
| ger point at times. But, somehow, Hill
| invariably carried his point. and has sue
! cessfully ended two or three dangerous
! strikes