New-York tribune., 1905-10-28
HARTMAN FEARS TROUBLE
NCOMPETITIVE BUILDING
Says L. p. Has Naught to Fear
Us That So?" Says Hill.

Roth F. H Hartman and James J. Hill were
st their offices yesterday, the former having just
returned from his three months trip TO the Far
East and the la tier having arrived in the city
after an absence of several weeks in the North
west Mr. Hartman, in an interview, discussed
Industrial conditions and tendencies in the
Orient and made some weighty remarks upon
the railroad situation in the United States
Asked what basis there might be for recent
rurnors of an outbreak of hostilities between the
Hartman and Hill-Morgan interests Mr. Harri-
man responded:
There is outbreak. ! do think that we are
apt to into of competitive railroad
building. just as we passed through an era OF
competitive railroad buying. In any event, the
Union Pacific is in the best position of any of
them II has little or nothing to fear, does
II care.
Reference being made 20 the dispute in
progress. between the Union Pacific and the
Burlington over projected lines in the North
Platte Valley, in Nebraska Mr.. Hartman said:
we are building a line IN the North Platte and
they are trying to prevent us. It is old line
and a very small affair, which we planned some
time ago. The matter is without significance"
In response to questions about his observations
in the Far East. Mr.. Hartman said:
This trip has confirmed me in my previous i'm
preston as to conditions in the Orient. Japan is
very far in the lead of other Eastern countries.
reads and going ahead developing the country,
ard the money which is collected from the peo-
PIE is spent for their benefit. In the other coun-
tries OF the Orient the people are divided into
two classes. ore producing and one taking away
from the producer. The other countries are still
In the old state.
1 believe that China is going to open herself
That is the result of the development Of trans
portation lines The Chinese are depending
on the railroads. instead of tearing them down
Corea will have TO be reorganiZed, probably un-
der the advice of Japan. The Japanese are
70 n
the transpacifc trade. and we shalI nave 10
deal with them. We must come into compeu-
The japanese are going to develop the orient
and are the dominating factor Ihey are gong
TO get their share OF transpacfic business IN
their own bottoms and with the aid OF sub
sides.
Asked whether not the cabled accounts Of
the stoning of his party in Toxic were exag-
gerated Mr.. Hartman answered:
We were not attacked. The facts SIM
-ply that one member of party tried to go
through crowd and they resented IL NO sae oale
than we were, and that because we We're
American.
Business conditions in the United States. in
Mr. Harriman's Judgment. "were never as good
as they are now all over the country. He had
not been subpenaed in the legislative insurance
investigation he added, and he remarked IN
effect that it was a matter Of indifference to
him whether not he was to be calleo as a
witness in that inquiry.
NJ Eiu yho was seen after the interview
with Mr. Hartman, said as the latter had said
that there was no struggle on between the Hill
and Hartman roads. He had no knowledge OF
the details of the dispute between the 8urling-
ton and the Union Pacific, and thought 1t
small matter, anyway. The line which the Bur
Ington desired TO build would extend from
Northport to Dickens. Neb., as he pointed out
On a map of theasystem, and would connect two
existing lines of the system.
rs the Burlington going to build into Salt
Lake City?" was asked.
That is one of the fables he responded.
such project would have to come before the
Burlington's board, and far I know, 1t
hasn't"
1T has been said" the suggestion made,
that the Burlington extension would be COM
petitive with the Union Pacific whether it par
aIleled the latter at a distance of ten miles or
one hundred miles, because it would be built to
compete for the through business
That would be too bad. wouldn't ft?"
marked Mr.. Hill.
Mr.. Harriman's remark about the Union Pa
cific being in the best position of any Of the
riod of competitive railroad building was re-
peated to Mr.. Hill, and he said: I'm glad to
hear that Mr. Hartman is feling so good
do you consider Mr.. Harriman's remark
reflection the Hill roads?'
Yes" was Mr.. Hills sarcastic response 'the
Hill roads are all crippled and done for"
rs the Great Northern going to build to
Winnipeg and to Hudson's Bay, as recent dis
patches have reported?"
We are going to wait for Peary to discover
the Pole and then we will build by way Of
Baffin's Bay on pontoons. The climate is fine
UP there-ten months Of winter and two months
of fall. The ties embedded in ice, will last for
a hundred years"
But do you believe that era Of competitive
railroad building is at hand?''
II guess Mr. Hartman speak for himself
that subject" answered Mr. Hill, adding
more seriously moment later: That view of
the situation hasn't presented itself to me-
Mr. Hill would not discuss the purpose OF the
recent increase of S25 100000 in the Great
Northern's capital stock. saying: THAT is
question for the stockholders. The general pub
lie which is reached through the newspapers is