The Minneapolis journal., 1905-11-20
IS HARTMAN IN
HILLS TERRITORY?
NORTH COAST RAILROAD IS HIS
OR THE NoRTH-WEsTERN's.
lieved Responsible for Reticence of
Milwaukee and Other Roads Concern
ing Their Coast Extensions-Seattle
Situation May End HILL Hartman
~

Special to The Journal. 49,.
Seattle. Wash. Nov. 20.-Unless
James J. Hill and E. H. Hartman, who
for years have been at war over the |
north Pacific coast territory, one for |
control and the other for a share Of the |
be able to hold out much longer, and |
a large share Of the northwest traffic |
enjoyed by each must be divided with |
other lines That such settlement is |
pending is generally believed by rail |
road men, and is also the sign Of the
times.
No longer is there any doubt but that
two transcontinental lines are prepar-
ing to begin the construction Of ex-
tensions which will land them at Seat
tie. No longer is there any doubt but
that the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul,
whose president, A. J. Earling, has
been in Seattle all week, is the power
ing a right of way from Chamberlain,
8. D., to Puget sound and already in
possession of several blocks of tide
lands here for terminal purposes.
But new feature has entered the
game. The North Coast railroad, thru
Its local attorney, A. j. Kerr, has ap-
piled for franchise to enter Seattle.
For thirty days this road has had right
of way agents in the field and at the
present time has secured about all the
land necessary for right of way be-
tween Walla Walla and Seattle. This
movement, until this week, has been
identified with the Pacific railroad, but
has nothing whatsoever to do with the
ect, and stops there. Who the North
Coast railroad belongs to is a question
unanswered, but the finger points to
either the North-W Western or E. H. Har-
riman.
Hill, In his fight against Hartman,
has been able to protect his own terri
tory by his Northern Pacific and Bur-
ington alliance. But with the Milwau-
kee and another line reaching out to
become transcontinen roads lies a
danger to the Minnesota roads which
only q far-seeing eye can avert.
tie by the Great Northern and North
ern Pacific their waterfront tracks must
be kept open to future roads. However,
any new transcontinental line must find
terminals of it's own. By allowing Har-
riman to enter Seattle, Hill would be
able to change the map Of the water
front; permit the Union Pacific to &C,
quire harbor holdings, which would
shut out the possibility Of any exten-
sive terminals being secured by new
line in Seattle and by a traffic agree
ment with the Hartman roads still con-
troll In large measure the northwest
ern territory for his own lines, and at
the same time share in the Hartman
traffic delivered here for trans-Paci6c
shipment.
It is the fear Of some such plan or
alliance, 1t is said, that prevents an
open announcement on the part Of the
Milwaukee or any other road concern
ing its coast extensions and in justif-
cation of these fears it Is positively
known that within a short time Hill,
thru agents here, has secured options
on Seattle southside tide lands which
if taken up, will, in connection with
the Northern Pacific, the Pacific Coast
company and Great Northern water
front holdings, place any new transcon
tinental line at decided disadvantage
in this port.
By many competent railroad men II
is believed that the Seattle situation
will end the Hill-Harriman war; result
in a declaration of peace and the en-
trance to the coast Of the Union Pacifi'
thru the properties and franchises be
ing acquired by the North Coast rail
road.