The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1905-09-13

p ,esldlng and directing genius. OF
those who furnished the original
M aterial for the last reorganization.
Mr.. Hill is the only one who has al
ways been active in the details of
the development. The work which
ne has done is not only part of the
history of Minnesota but of the en-
tire Northwest. Few men would or
could have stood up under the dis
Ecouragements and attempts to de-
feat his enterprises, and especially
the attempt to destroy him for hav-.
ing done so much to develop
country. The time will come, when,
instead of being held up to the pub
lie as an oppressor to be avoided,
Mr.. j. ]. Hill will be honorpd as
the man who accomplished more
than any one man who has ever
lived to make the North vest what
it IS to day and what it will be for
centuries to come. It is not likely
to come during Mr.. Hills lifetime.
The more is the pity. It is dis
credit that SO many obstacles have
been placed in his pathway. But
in spite of all this he has resolutely
kept on his course, and millions of
people are now prosperous and
happy as the result of the efforts of
this single man. A shrewd and sa-
gacious business man, the railroad
giant of the world, his only real
offense seems to be that he has had
some regard while passing through
life for the personal interests of
James ]. Hill. But if you will find
me man who conducts large bus
mess enterprises as matter OF
philanthropy I will endeavor to ar
range for his translation at an early
period to another and better world
he is certainly too good for this
one
Mr.. Hill, after getting the St.
Paul, Minneapolis & Manitoba road
on good basis, commenced the
work originally intended, of making
it a through Pacific road. The
, Great Northern was incorporated
under the laws OF Minnesota and al
of the lines and branches of the
: former company passed to the new
! organization under a 500 year lease
! Only 3,847, 376 acres of land, all II
Minnesota, were given to the com
pany as subsidy, and these acres
were given under the charters o
the first two roads. The extension
of the Great Northern, through
North Dakota, Mont na, an through
the mountains of the latter state
Idaho andlWashington, was entirel.
without dollar of subsidy-eith
in land or money, local aid not evel
being solicited. Fifteen years ag
Mr.. Hill Witnessed the driving {
the last spike that meant the CON
pletion of his'sgreat work-a wor
assigned to him over 80 years age
Where is there another man VIII
would have undertaken and sue
cessfully carried out this mammot
enterprise 10 the face of the advers
circumstances encountered by MI
Hill? We think that when the sobe
historian writes sober statemen
of Mr.. Hills work the people wh
have been among the first to cor
dema him will be the first 10 sa
that the nation, and especially thi
great North west, owes him monu
ment more enduring than brass.
The tunnel through the Cascades
completed only short time age
takes the place of switchback
over which trains previousl
passed, and all along the main lin
improvements are constantly goin
on, while branches are eyerywher
reaching out to furnish people wit
transportation facilities and to tn
world. That Mr. Hill may see thi
accomplished before be passes fror
this world is our sincerest wish.
J. A. S.