The Indianapolis journal., 1903-10-21
j. j. HILL TO FARMERS
RAILWAY MAGNATE DISCUSSES
FREIGHT RATES AND IRRIGATION.
Also Speaks of the Growth of the
Northwest and Trade with
the Orient.

BISMARCK, n. D., Oct. pa new irri-
CATION congress, primarily a state organiza-
ton. but indirectly affecting the entire
Northwest. was formed here to-day. and,
while only a preliminary organization was
formed, the session to-day was perhaps the
most important of the two days meeting.
because of the presence OF James J. Hill,
president of the Northern Securities Com
pany. Mr.. Hill talked on irrigation and its
relation to the development of the North
west and incidentally referred to the mer-
ger case. the trade of the Orient and its
effect on the Northwest and other kindred
subjects.
Mr. Hill first referred to the fact that il
was thirty years ago that he first crossed
the Red river into what is now the State of
North Dakota. Now, here said Mr.. Hill,
lis the material growth of the Northwest.
In 1882 we moved 100000 tons of freight: in
1903 we hauled 16, 1iS000 tons. In 1882 our rate
for carrying a ton of freight, that is the
average rate over the whole line, per one
hundred miles. was S2.51. In 1892 IL was S1.2l
and in 1905 IL is 50 cents, which is one-third
of what the rate was twenty-one years ago.
That means that If the rate of twenty-one
years ago had been in force you could not
have raised grain enough to pay the cost of
cultivating the soil and of paying us for
carrying il to the markets. The reduction
in freight rates has been brought about by
increasing the volume of traffic; that we
have created new traffic by making il pos
sible for men to cultivate the soil and raise
crops which we carry TO market. Before
you can get the traffic you must make It,
and / want you to bear in mind that what
ever benefits you, directly or indirectly,
whatever gives you pleasure. directly or in
directly, will in almost every case put
money into our treasury.
Following this Mr.. Hill showed the vast
increase of traffic at North Dakota points
on the line of the Great Northern. He re-
ferred only indirectly TO the merger when
he stated. laughingly. that he was charged
with owning ell the railways north of St
Louis but declared that he was kept pretty
busy looking after his own line. Then he
gave figures, showing Il remarkable traffic
finishing with the statement, that with al
this growth we get the same return on ouI
money that we did before. We get pei
cent. on our money just as we did before
Mr.. Hill then went into the matter OF
freight tariffs TO show that the people OF
this State We're better off than in many
other StaetS supposed 10 be better favored
and said: II took up the schedule of one OF
these lines south of us-one of the lines that
struggled 10 get the Northern Pacific be.
cause this country was growing too fast
and found that their rate is Sl06 for trans
porting ton of freight leo miles. OuI
rate is % cents. Take the big lines run.
ning out OF Chicago don't care which one
you take-the Chicago x Northwestern. fol
instance. and you will find that although an
older line than we are it's paying a higher
rate of interest than we are, than the
Northern Pacific as WELL.
In closing MIR. Hill alluded to the great
values of system of practical education
of pupils in school along agricultural lines
He said: 'Some of our good friends in the
East have opposed national irrigation from
a fear that the pT oducts OF Western farm:
would be increased and compete with thos,
of the Eastern farmers. The products o
the fertile lands OF North Dakota, however
great they NAV be however much tbaN
may contribute To the prosperity of thos,
who till the soil, will find in the markets o.
Asia an outlet which will absorb them IL
| all the years that are yet to come"