New-York tribune., 1906-01-30
COUNTRY Is WASTEFUL.
SO SAYS JAMES j. HILL.
Great Northern President Denies a
Bunch of RumOrS.

Il
a fortune, one that he has not helped to build
up, and is spending it rapidly and freely, He is
spending the principal"
James J. TIll, president Of the Great Northern
Railroad Company, returned from the North
west yesterday, and thus characterized the gem
eral conditions in the country. When he made
this remark he was reminded that in the spring
. Of 1893 he had begun talking about overproduc-
/ uOn, and had been keeping up the same general
line Of prediction since. "Win you say
anything about overproduction now?" he was
/ asked. How about the general business out
| look OF the country
II don't like to say anything about that" he
replied The people will call me a croaker
again. But look at the balance of trade, and
that VIII tell you. The balance Of trade shows
the commercial standing OF the country. and
there is little difference either way now. We
have heard a great deal Of talk Of late about the
size Of our trade with Japan. The consular re-
ports published In this mornings papers show
the truth about that They tell that we sell
Japan about $2G.OOOOO0 worth Of our products
annually while we buy from her about 500
100000 worth. With Great Britain and Japan
II is the other way. The balance OF trade is
about S2J.OOOOO0 in Great Britain's favor That
is the way it ought TO be with US.
We'll, let us see what viii happen now We
have had series of wars for the last few years
that have kept things stirred up and hampered
trade There was the Boer war, that stirred
things up at pretty lively rate for while
and then there came the Russo-Japanese war.
that is only just over with. We have got to
have a settling down TO let the world catch up.
There are a million and quarter OF idle men
| In England now, with nothing for them to do
and there viii be nothing until they move"
no COMMENT on PENN. INQUIRY
do YOU mean that they VIII have TO get out
Of the country he was asked
Yes that's it. They will have to get out Of
the country. ! cannot undertake TO say where
they will go"
Mr.. Hlls attention was called to the action
in Congress looking to an inquiry into the rela-
tiOns of the Pennsylvania with its various sub
sidiary and controlled lines. notably the Balti-
more and Ohio and the Norfolk and West
ern. He seemed deeply interested I'm the re-
port. and his attitude suggested sympathy with
the attempt TO bring about an inquiry Senator
! Tillmans remark that this seems to be a par
allel case 10 that Of the Northern Securities
Company ELECTED the reply from Mr.. Hill that
We have made haste 10 comply with the law"
He would not be led however, to comment on
! the Pennsylyanias relations with other roads
except 70 say that if the Great Northern could
charge as high rates as some Eastern lines it
would add %25.oUoNO q year TO its income.
When Mr.. Hill met the reporters IN the cor
| ridor Of the Northern Securities Company Office
he said: Here I am, like Davy Crockett's coon"
| But I'll come down without your shooting"
That recalled the appearance Of Mir. HiNs
name in the Town Topics" list, and he was
asked how he happened to be "a subscriber to
| .'Fads and Fancies."
Did 1 subscriber he asked L don't re-
member IT,"
Your name was in the list" he was told.
| Mr.. Hill looked at the ceiling and considered.
That's the first l ever heard Of it," he said A
! copy OF the book was sent to the Historical So
! ciety. I like TO do little things like that"
1t was suggested that, perhaps, the book had
| not been received by the society.
Perhaps not" said MIR. Hill II don't know
! anything about that won't have to pay for
! II until it is received"
! Mr. Hill denied several interesting stories Of
! railroad changes and combinations. one Of the
! first subjects TO be brought up was the story
! that Mr.. Hartman had bought the Pacific Coast
! Company
! ..r know nothing about that story" said Mr.
14u u have never been connected with the
! company
DENIES TERMINAL CONTROL REPORT
r, regard TO the report that the Burlington
bad acouired control OF the Chicago Terminal
PaiIvyay and Transfer Company, ne said that
! ,ba harrington did not own a share OF the ter
| .,,f,.7 ,o,npauv stock nor did the Great North
/ srr nor Nr Hill. And | am 2 director Of the
| harrington and ought to know" he added
When asked If the Pennsylvania, as has been
! said had acquired the terminal company he
said that ne did not care to say anything about
/ what other people were doing.
| n, connection with the Pacific Coast Company
/ report he was asked about the competitive
railroad building in the Far West Il can only
saw" ne said that the Great Northern Is build
| inc down the north shore Of the Columbia River,
and there is 10 room for any one else there.
| Rut the Great Northern would welcome Mr.
Hartman. the ST Paul. the Goulds, or any one
/ IN Seattle
1t was remarked that Seattle was getting to
| be a big centre
Yes" he said quite a centre for place on
| one side"
He said that the Western dispatches about
competitive building reminded him Of the httie
hov with the toy balloon The balloon was al
right az long as it was full Of wind, but as soon
as some one pricked IT and let the "lho out !"
| Continued on second
J sAvANNAH LINE 20 Georgia ana F''''
'I5toas az Franklin for paT1H ia'S'- 49,"