Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1902-01-16
]. ]. HILLS ADDRESS
Before the Tri.State Grain Growers
Convention Held at
Fargo.
Saws Those in Control of n. P. Ednd
6. n. Will Help Deyelope
the Northwest.
A Resolution That Was Left Un-
acted Upon By the Convention
After Discussion.

acted Upon BY the Convention
After Discussion.
The CHIEF event in the largely at
tended grain growers convention at
Fargo was the speech of j. j. Hill,
which is given below. During the
morning session a set of resolutions
were introduced and adopted, among
which was one commenting the work
Of upbuilding the northwest by J. J..
Hill. This resolution defended the
recent merger Of the NIP, G.. N. and
Burlington lines, and reads as follows:
'The natural and logical line OF trans
portation for the products OF the
northwest American states is from
the nearest point on the Pacific coast
to the next nearest point on the Great
Lakes through and traversing the
great basin Of the Upper Mississippi,
the Valley OF the Red River of the
North, the bead waters Of the Mis-
souri,, and the fertile lands lying be-
tween the Canadian border and the
Columbia river, on to the Pacific coast.
The trade OF the Orient entering the
United States and destined for the
north, middle and eastern states, can
best reach it's destination by this
route, and t. divert it to the south or
encourage its transportation through
the provinces OF Canada, would not
only add to the cost Of the delivered
goods, but would deprive the states
from which it would be DETECTED of
their share Of the tax upon the gross
earnings OF the roads carrying it, and
thereby deplete the revenues OF the
states through which it would be car
ried, we're the ordinary rules OF com
merce followed.
1t is the sense of this meeting there
fore, in resisting the attempts of the
Union Pacific road and its allies on
the one hand, and the Canadian Paci-
fic and it's feeders on the other, to Sc
cure control Of the Northern Pacific
railroad, James J. Hill has performed
notable public service, and once more
displayed that far-oighted and busi-
ness-like policy that has characterized
his long career as the great developer
Of northwestern resources, and the
most watchful guardian OF northwes-
tern interests. Mr.. Hill las built a
great continental railroad through a
wilderness that has grown through his
efforts into the richest empire on
earth, and never asked bonus or a
subsidy.
He has connected that railroad at
one end with fleet Of vessels that
carry American products to the orient
and bring back oriental goods to the
northwest and to the whole nation,
and at the other end with facilities by
water for the Atlantic seaboard, all
this, too, without dollar Of bonus or
the semblance of subsidy. Trusting
to the resources Of the country for the
traffic to justify extension, he has
entered every section that needed
transportation facilities, and con-
structed, often at loss to himself,
lines into sparsely settled, unproduct-
i've communities.
During all the years Of railroad
building there has been regularly
marked reduction Of freight tariffs,
according as the volume OF traffic in
creased and warranted it, and uniform
disposition to make temporary sacri-
fees for the permanent improvement
Of the country. In view Of this record
and il recognition Of the honorable
and upright course of James J. Hill in
his dealings with the farmers of the
northwest, we congratulate the coun-
try upon his success in preventing the
absorption of the Northern Pacific by
Union Pacific interests on the one
hand, and Canadian Pacific manipu-
lators on the other, and express our
confidence in the purpose and ability
of Mr.. Hill to give the states OF Min
nesota and North Dakota the best and
cheapest transportation facilities to be
had by the people of any section Of
this nation.''
There were some objections concern
ing Mr.. Hill and the railway plan
mentioned, and a delegate from Min
nesota moved that the resolution be
reconidered. This was out Of order,
and the matter was dropped until a.
ter dinner, and when as the resolu-
tions were again taken up Mr.. Hill
and Mayor johnson appeared on the
tage and the convention adjourneds