The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1901-01-11
HILL ON RAILROAD COMMUN-
ITY OF INTERESTS.
PLAN TO SAVE MONEY
Working Scheme by Which Roads
May Be Operated More
Economically.

New York, Jan. 9-Presldent }. ).
Hill of the Great Northern railway,
who arrived from the west yesterday
for the purpose, it was said, Of effect
ing several important railroad COM
binations, was at his office early to-
day. He met a number Of railroad
men and New York financiers, includ-
ing E. H. Hartman and Jacob Schlh.
From his office Hill went to the
Chase National bank, of which he is a
director, to attend a board meeting OF
directors and later he was in confer
ence with more railroad men.
Hill said to a reporter that the OBJ
iect of his visit was to "clean up some
small Matters He had one special
purpose, he said, that of consulting
some ship builders in regard to vessels
for his lake lines. He had no appoint
ment with J P. Morgan, he said, for
today or tomorrow. He had a num-
Der of matters to attend to, but
s.none of them as important as the
newspapers would have the public be-
lieve.'
James J. Hill in on interview today
outlined what he and his associates in
the giant railroad community OF in
terests'' are going to accomplish. In
stead Of the combining of the great
roads under system, said he, they
are trying to bring about al agree
ment between the big system OF the
northwest by which friction can be
prevented and the roads operated o
economically. He denied he was here
to see J, P. Morgan and j. D. Rookie
Teller.
Today brought no new develop
ments in the Hill Morgan-Rockefeller
combine. The meeting Of Northern
Pacific directors did nothing more i'm
portant, it was announced, than to
declare the 1 per cent quarterly divi-
dend.
Vice. President D. S. Lamont was
in close conference, until after dark,
with several directors OF the Northern
Pacific and associates Of Hill and de-
yelopments are expected soon.
Hill was in Wall street today.
James stillman, president of the Ma.
tional City bank, depository OF the
Standard Oil company, was one OF his
many callers. "My plans have been
greatly exaggerated and a crest dea
that is untrue has been published
about what I intend to do" said Hill
81 do not contemplate any great deal
such as has been attributed to me.
have not come to New York to SCI
Mor,an T have not seen Morgan to
day and have no engagement elthe:
to see him today or tomorrow. On
of the main objects Of my trip is t.
consult with the contractors who ar
building two steamships at New Lon
don for my line. I'VE need a large fee
for our lake traffic, as it is growing
very rapidly, and we are having tw
splendid vessels constructed.
II arr trying to arrange an agree
ment between the northwestern road
and prevent friction and make man
agement of the roads more conom
ical. In other words, a plan by whic
they may save money. The less frit
ton there is between Northwestern
roads the better it will be for all {
us. l am a believer in railroad Col
solidation, as it is advantageous.
is the inevitable policy of the roa6
sooner or later. Railroads, just lik
all other lines of business, should /
run as economically as possible
However, my plans have been 6
grossly misrepresented that I hay
made up my mind that silence is tt
best policy"
Hill did not attend the meeting
the Northern Pacific directors, but /
saw Lamont just afterwards.