The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1906-11-22
JAMES J. HILL TESTlFlES IN
GRAIN ELEVATOR HEARING
At MINNEAPOLIS,
DOES NOT own. ANY SUCH STOCK
EMPLOYEES OF GREAT NORTHERN
NOT INTERESTED IN BUsi.
NESS ALONG LINE. ~

Minneapolis, Nov. 22.-James ].
Hill, president of the Great Northern
and head of the Hill SYSTEM" the
Great Northern, Northern Pacific and
Burlington roads, was the first wit
ness to take the stand when Commits
sioners Lane and Prouty of the inter-
state commerce commission began
their inquiry in Minneapolis into the
relations which exist between the rail-
road companies and the grain compa.
MES in the Northwest.
The hearing is held pursuant to the
La Toilette resolution adopted by con-
gress at its last session.
Commissioners Prouty and Lane per-
sonally conducted the hearing, though
several attorneys Of different grain
interests participated in the question
ing. Mr.. Hill proved to be a willing
witness. His answers were given to
all questions without hesitation and in
detail. He told Of the tremendous
grain traffic on his road. He said the
Great Northern in 1879 hauled 2,7S9,-
900 bushels, while in 1906 this had in
creased to probably 115,OO0,0OO bush
els. In view of the fact that the
bulk of the Great Northern business
comes from farmers he said it had
been his policy to aid the farmer
whenever possible.
lis it the policy of your road, Mr..
Hill, to delay freight for any reason?"
was one of the opening questions.
Does Not Delay Traffic.
mo, it certainly is not" was the re-
ply. IF the connecting roads would
move freight faster we could do a
great deal better. The fact that traf-
is simply the fault of the immense
amount Of accumulated business. 9th
er lines are more open to criticism
than the Great Northern. In Chicago
a few days ago took especial pains
to make inquiries about traffic and
could not get single line which
would agree to move 100000 tons Of
freight to New York before Deem
Der. The Great Northern can right
along handle all business received
from the East promptly. The conges-
ton comes from traffic from the West.
On the specific subject of grain ell
evators Mr.. Hill testified:
Eyes 1t is our rule to permit any
one to erect elevators at stations of
our road on the right of way. We
now make our contracts, however, not
transferable, as we have found in
stances where such applications were
not made In good faith and after
wards sold at good figure. We
have found trouble in keeping ele-
vators from combining and sometimes
in tracing down applications for ele-
vator sites have found different ap-
plicants to really represent one in
terest. When we have found objec-
tionable elevator combines we have
sometimes built elevators Of our own
and placed men In charge. In such
instances the combines have tried to
freeze our man out. We have such
an instance at Litchfield, but were,
ablo to help Our man out, But that,
gentlemen" Mr.. Hill said With a
smile, was before the passage 'ef
the interstate commerce law"
In regard to the Great Northern's
terminal elevators at Duluth Mr.. Hill
stated his company did operate them,
but that because of Wisconsin law
requiring grain in that state to be
1ncnootod NV U7icco,o;- ouo
that these elevators were now leased,
They are located on Wisconsin ground.
Would Not Relieve Congestion.
Mr.. Hill thought the building of ell
evators of much greater capacity, in
Minneapolis would not relieve conges-
ton Of grain traffic, but he did think
the action Of the state grain COM
mission in sending inspectors as far
out as 100 miles to inspect grain was
good move In this direction.
Mr.. Hill said that elevators are con-
iinually treating the farmers unfairly
We have to watch the elevators all
the time" he said "This work is
done by the traffic department, but as
q matter of fact the department is
pretty powerless." r.
1--WE had complaintsat Milwaukee,"
said one of the commissioners, "t1lat
you often upset grain rates by changes
In rates on Your. road" il.
That's all old complaint" was the
reply. I'VE have always made low
er rate on carrying grain than any
other road on the same meridian"
"Mr. Hill, do you own any elevator
tock whatsoever" ..s.&,
mo, sir, don't. did once. When
Loren Fletcher and others some years
ago wanted to erect a 100000 bushel
elevator I told them the need was for
one of a million bushel capacity. /
agreed to take stock to aid in this.
When the elevator was built and got
to paying we'll the original parties
bought out my stock. ~ .a.
Il want to say right here that no
man In the Great Northern road can
own any stock in. anything along the
line of the road. III he does he must
leave my employ, even if he were my
own SON" r