The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1905-10-06
NOTABLES EN- ROUTE
President Hill and Party in Billings
Last Night.

James j. Hill, president of the Great
Northern railway, and his distinguish
ed party of railroad men and eastern
Hnanclers, arrived in this city prompt.
ly at o'clock yesterday afternoon,
Inc party is travelling in a palatial
special train and remained in Billings
over night.
A reception committee composed of
president Moss and members of the
Commercial club was at the depot un-
on the arrival of the train and gave
the visitors greeting. 1t was not known
until the train arrived of whom the
party was composed, aside from Mr..
Hill, Mr.. Elliott and other prominent
railroad men. 1t did not take long for
the receiving committee to come to
an understanding that the party was
composed of some of the leading kings
OF finance of New York and Boston:
men whose names are coupled with
the great things of the country both
east and west and who are connected
VASAA SAAS G1OtLOoL INSTITUTIONS
of the entire nation.
Howard Elliott, president of the
Northern Pacific, and J. M. Hanna
ford, second vice president Of the
same company, were among the first
to- alight from the train, and they
were followed closely by Darius Mil
Ter, who, next to James J. Hill, is one
of the foremost men in western rail-
reading. Mr.. Miller is the first vice
president of the Northern Sc
curities company, and next to Presi-
dent Hill, is said to be the leading
spirit of that gigantic company.
AS soon as Mr.. Hills immense tour
ing car had been taken from his pri-
vate car and his son, L. W. Hill, who
is one of the vice presidents of the
Great Northern company, had assumed
his position as driver, the visitors
were comfortably slowed away in
automobiles, and ride to the coun-
try was Immediately inaugurated. The
first trip was to the west along the
skirt of the beautiful valley and back |
through the center of the great alfalfa
district. Passing through the city again |
the visitors were then taken out upon |
the Billings bench, where they were |
shown many practical illustrations of /
the transformation that water can
make in one season upon the arid soil |
of the state; soil that needs nothing
but water to make it the most fertile
and productive of any in the broad
land. After spending some time on the
bench the party was returned to their
cars, where they found dinner await
ing them.
Reception at Club.
Before the arrival of the party it
had been arranged that a reception
should be held at the Billings club,
and members of the club were invited
20 be present. At $3.50 the entire party
If visitors was escorted to the rooms
of the club, where representative
body of citizens was gathered. Aside
rom home citizens there were pres
snt many out-of-town visitors-men
rom nearby towns, sheep men from :
ar away ranges, and farmers of the ,
valley and bench. Some time was :
pent in introducing members of the ,
,arty to citizens. Mr.. Hill was given :
seat in one corner of the reading /.
Uhnrn Va he
# stock with I. D. O'Donnell, P. B. )
loss and others, like a veritable far
ner. Elbert Hubbard said in his lee
ure here that James J. Hill was one
t the most learned men in the world. =
'hta this man, who was nthe inner g
ircle of the most stupendous financial !,
Undertakings of the nation, could talk :
n music, art or any other esthetic
ubject that might arise. Mr.. Hill a
howed himself equally at home in the :
ubject of cattle and sheep feeding,
lso, as he might in railroad con-
truction and operation. He maintains
fine farm near st. Paul, where he =
as raised some of the greatest prize :,
inners in cattle competition in the !,
nited States. He stated that he had =,
hat full of gold medals won in such -
and that he held the :,
ecord on percentage of neat to gross -
steer dressing. He talked easily and =,
1visedly on every phase of the sub o.
cts, and demonstrated that he is an T ,r
Die exponent of barley and oil cake =,
cattle feed-in fact Mr.. Hill really ~
otes on those articles as flesh Pro- -
Icers. -
Working for Board.
After he had finished a short speech =,
hich was delivered at the request of
ose present n peneral discussior oF :