The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-10-28
WESTERN RAILROADS BETTER.
ONE REASON JAMES j. HILL has
KEPT OUT OF THE EAST.
Objects on Business Principles 10 Eastern
Alliances Thinks western MethOds
Better Than Those In Vogue Here
A Case in Point y New Jersey Central,

Objects on Business PTtnctptes 10 F"s'r''
AIIances-Thinks western Methods
Better Than Those in Vogue Here
A Case in Point y New Jersey Central
James J.. Hills attempts to resign from
| the Erie board-attempts that we're frus-
trated by the refusal of the directors and
stockholders to pay the slightest attention
10 two letters of resignation from the presi-
dsnt Of the Great Northern-recalled TO
railroad men in the Wall Street district
recently that all efforts to interest the great
Western railroad man in Eastern railroad
properties have failed. In this respect
Mr. Hill stands alone among the railroad
men of the West. The man closest APP
proach;nS his prominence in the West,
e. H. Hartman, president OF the Union
Pacific. IL. for instance, a director in Illi-
nois Central, Chicago and Alton, baltimore
and Ohio, Erie and Delaware and HUDSON, as
well as other smaller roads east OF the
Mississippi.
Generally, Mr.. Hills action has been
ascribed to a business principle often
enunciated by him, to the general pur-
port that his roads, the Great Northern
Northern Pacific and Chicago, Burlington
and Quincy, hold a stronger traf1c posnlon
il managed without Eastern alliances IMAM
otherwise. Under such a CONDITION. ne
maintains, favoritism does not enter at
all into contracts for interchange OF tramc'
The traffic officials know that their only
business 10 to distribute the eastbound
traffic of the Hill roads to the companies
which will give in return the heaviest trafnc
to the Northwest and the Coast.
Some we'll informed railroad men insist
that Mr.. Hill has another and deeper reason
FOR keeping away from the East. He be-
lieves. they say, that Western railroad
methods are vastly superior to these OF the
East and could not be content to he in
terested in a property conducted in a manner
he did not approve.
A case in point is an effort to interest Mr..
Hill in the Central Railroad OF New jersey.
Charles Warren, who had held a prominent
position On one Of the Hill roads, had be-
come vice-president Of the Jersey Central
and had talked the property to Mr.. Hill
until the president Of the Great Northern
consented 10 take a trip Of inspection over
the line. The party was to start from jersey
CITY and a special train had been provided.
Mr., hiIl arrived at the station IN advance
NJ the rest Of the party. Not caring to wait
ON the train, he stroIed % the yard,
and presently his curiosity was aroused
bv the large number of freight cars standing
on the tracks. He walked up to one OF the
employees. ~z
in the yards?" he asked.
-Ob, this is no particular congestion
was the reply. The yards always this
How long have these cars been here7"
reioined Mr.. Hill, pointing 90 long rows
covering half a dozen tracks.
Some Of 'em a month; some OF EN- six
weeks; some Of EN- more than that. ' replied
the employed. You see, the consigneee
won't take out their goods and we cant
do anything till they empty the cars.
Must be a big bill for demurrage, re-
sOh. no, we don't charge anything for
that" was the answer. They always
empty the cars as'soon as they find a place
to put the goods
Mr.. Hill walked back to the special train.
Mr.. Warren had just arrived and was waiting
for him on the platform.
Il guess III 90 pack to New York said
the president Of the Great Northern.
@TS hatl' said Mr.. Warren. You surely
don't mean thatG I supposed you were
Il have said Mr.. Hill. dryly. 'T've
looked II over and seen enough
Mr.. Warren and others in the party tried
~pereuAsion. but persuasion was useless. Mr..
Hill had dismissed the proposition,
1T is only fair to remark, though said
the railroad man who tod the story, that
conditions on he Jersey Central have much
improved since then. As a matter OF fact
thew have on all other Eastern roads. |
guess Mr.. Hill appreciates that. but at
the same time he is firmly OF the opinion
that Western rnilroading n far n away
ahead Of the methods Of the East.