The Irish standard., 1901-05-25
STORIES OF j. j. HILL.
Wonderful Career of the Great Rail-
road Magnate.


The following article on James ].
Hill, president of the Great Northern.
appeared in the New York Sun of May
10:
James j. Hill. whose name has been
mentioned a good deal of late in con-
nection with Northern Pacific affairs.
lives in n red stone house on the east
bank of the Mississippi at st. Paul.
Everybody knows that he had n hum
ble business beginning OH Il steamboat
levee ut st. Paul. There is tradition
that lie was Il roustabout in the ser
vice. In any event, he assisted in
handling freight. His rise is in itself
proof that he possesses unusual abil-
ity.
He was Il capital story teller as Il
young man. In the early days when
the volunteer fire department was Il
feature of city life he was an ardent
volunteer The members used to take
turns at waiting upon one another
when they were ill, and one old settler
long remembered the time lie was laid
up from an accident and young Hill
came to sit with him. He would lie
awake nearly all night to laugh at
Hills good stories.
Mrs. Hill is Il Roman Catholic, and
to please her a few years ago Mr.. Hill
endowed st. PaulS Theological Semi
nary. Il Roman Catholic Institution in
Grovcland Park. in the suburbs of st.
Paul. At the time of the dedication
he made an address in which lie said:
Il am not Il Roman Catholic. but I
have lived with one long enough to
know the motto of their lives is Bless
ed are the pure ut heart"
Nor is the capitalist without Senti-
mcnt i'll other directions. The family
used to live in IL large house in lower
st. Paul but when the railroads began
to encroach on the property and make
the district undesirable for residence
home in Summit avenue. He had the
old house in which they had dwelt for
many years torn down and utterly de-
stroycd. He said he would not sell
his associations to any one
He has nine daughters and sons. of
whom the eldest is married to Samuel
Hill of Minneapolis. Samuel Hill has
become associated with Mr.. Hill in his
railroad system, and last year was
an appointment on the Board of Over
seerS. The oldest son. James w. Hill.
follows in the footsteps of his father,
by whom he is pronounced 1.-THE finest
railroad man in .Amerca.' He is the
image of Mr.. Hill in appearance and
is like him in activity and slrcwdncss.
Louis HILL the second son. is also Il
railroad man and has been made prcsi-
dent of the Eastern Minnesota rail
road. one Of his fathers requirements.
within Il year or two.
MIR. Hill is very proud of his family
and is the slave of Il four-yenr-old
grandson. his nAmrsHkc The little
fellow wandered into his grandfathcr's
picture gallery one day and cncoln-
tered IL stranger Il young woman who
was viewing the paintings
''IIow do you do?" he said. II am
lonely. Grandfather is away and not
any one is here. This house is very
big when there's nobody in it."
Mr.. Hills art gallery is famous
among connoiscurs for it's representa-
ton of the HarbiZon school which is
said to be the finest in America. He
has preference for French paintings
Probably the most notable picture in
collection is the "Riblis" of Corot,
'"rhe Charcoal Burner of Rousseau
and Il PuviS de Chavannes are also i'll
cluded.
Mr.. Hills persistence in the pursuit
OF any idea that will accrue to his ad-
vantage is as characteristic in his rec
fcatiOnS as in his business life. He
permits no obstacle to intervene be-
tween him ana the fuliilment of Il de-
sire. He takes the most minute and
intelligent interest in everything in his
possession. If it is worth acquiring it
is worth knowing I'LL about. Thus he
does not buy pictures through buyers
He makes his own purchases and
knows thoroughly the value of his
work he seeks
His knowledge of diverse subjects
is enormous. Unlike others he does
not leave the details of his business to
heads of departments or subordinutes.
He will not have general managers.
The same attention to detail enters
in his appreciation of art.
He has given Mrs. Hill IL collection
of jewels that would adorn a crown
Now and then when they are enter.
tanning special guests or for any other
reason it seems desirable to show the
jewels. Mr.. Hill will bring out the
trays. where s;pphires. rubes and dia.
nonds glitter in profusion. FIe is fa.
miliar with the quality and history OF
each and dwells entertaningly upol
them in turn.
On one occasion he was entertaining