New-York tribune., 1901-01-10
TO SAVE EIGHTEEN HOURS.
]. j. HILLS REPORTED PLAN TO SHORT
EN- TRANSCONTINENTAL JOURNEY.
PRESIDENT OF THE GREAT NORTHERN
RAILWAY IN CONFERENCE WITH
FINANCIERs-TALKA ABOUT
THE ST. PAUL.

The most sought after man in the financial dis
trict yesterday James j. HILL president OF the
Great Northern Railway Company, who arrived in
this city on Tuesday for a weeks visit.
1t said yesterday good authority that
among Mr.. Hills plans which might soon be put
into execution one for materially shortening
the transcontinentaI Journey. Passengers arriving
Victoria from the Orient. il was said, and now
naturally taking the Canadian Pacific in going TO
New-York, would before long have the choice OF
alternative route arranged by Mr.. Hill and
made up of the Great Northern the St Paul ana
the Pennsylvania by taking which route they
would be enabled to reach this city eighteen hours
sooner than if they to travel by the Canadian
Pacific
When Mr. Hill came downtown yesterday morn
ing from the Hotel Netherland, he proceeded first
the office of the Great Northern, at No. q Pine
St, where a number of railroad men and fnanciers.
including e. II. Hartman and Jacob II. Sch-n,
called upon him. Then Mr. Hill went to the Chase
National Bank of which he is a director. to attend
a meeting of the Board, among the other directors
present being John l. Waterbury and Grant B.
Schley While the conference was in progress the
president of large Philadelphia trust company
called and was admitted the boardroom, remain
ing only few minutes, however. Soon Thomas r
Fowler. president of the NCw-York Ontario and
Western came in; but he was unable at the mo-
ment to see Mr.. Hill, and soon departed to meet
business engagement uptown
Mr.. Hill remained at the Chase National Bank
till 80 o'clock. when went to luncheon with
Vice-President Hepburn. To the reporters who
waiting for him he said that his mission in
the East had been rather magnifed The main OBJ
ject of his visit was 10 clean up some small mat
ters." He had special purpOse-that of con-
suting the contractor who is building near this
city some vessels for the Great Northern service
Asked how economies in railroad operation could
be brought about. Mr. Hill answered that the first
step lessen the friction among the roads.
hut he had no plans or suggestions to make al
though he thought the tendency was toward a bet
ter understanding among railroad men.
Mr.. Hill added in answer 10 further questions
that he had no appointment with Mr. Morgan for
yesterday or to-day He had number of matters
TO attend 10. but none Of them as important as
the newspapers would have the public believe" He
had decided that the best policy was silence con
1t had been reported that Mr.. Hin was to he
present at the meeting of the Northern racine
directors held yesterday afternoon but II was sald
by officer of the company after the meeting that
he had not been there. He did, however, it is
Mex Twombly. in the Mills Building.
The belief is gaining ground in the Street that
road by the Great Northern and Northern Pa
chc Jointly. but that sufficient measure Of har-
mony among the three roads will be insured by the
extensive purchases Of stock of the St Paul
by Mr.. Hin and his associates. who for some time
have been the largest individual shareholders in the
Northern Pacific well as in the Great Northern.
II is understood. too that at the next regular
meeting Of the St Paul directors Mr.. Hill will be
! elected to the Board fill the vacancy caused by
the death of Philip D. Armour.
Whatever may be the nature Of the agreement
under which the St. Paul is come into close and
harmonious relations with the Great Northern and
TO take final shape before President Hill returns
the Nest. IL is generally believed that his visit
'harmonizinE" the anthracite roads. and that part
OF his time will be devoted TO conferences regarding
ern for example dehnitely under the control Of
influences vitality interested in preventing the possi-
| bility of disturbance of the present good feeling
/ among the ''cOalers.'