The Washington herald., 1907-08-04
MERGER OF GREAT NORTHERN
J. J. Hills Efforts to Finance It in
London, England.
How Leo Roberts Invested All His
While in south Africa.

Former Judge Morgan J. O'Brien re-
Gently told the following story OF J. J.
Hills efforts 10 finance in London the
Great Northern merger in the Cincinnati
Commercial-Tribune:
Il have never seen the story in print. %
said Judge O'Brien. "and rs it is illus
tratiye of Mr. HH's magnetic character
and the manner in when he has found
help for his enterprises. think I viii
tell IT,
Il would like TO give it in the Ian
guage Of Mr.. Hill. but cannot
Il went abroad two or three veaFs ago
and among my fellow-pa passengers upon
the steamer was the president OF the
/ Northern Pacific Re told me the Incl
: dent I am about 10 narrate 70 you. and
appeared to derive much satisfaction out
of it.
"He said that he tried 10 finance the
Great Northern merger in Wall street
the summer before the BoeIf war, and
| failed. Not TO be defeated. he sailed for
/ London, carrying with him letters TO
/ several influential bankers.
Immediately after landing he com
municated with one Of the bankers and
was invited to meet him at dinner at
/ his home. upon which occasion several
men would be present Mr.. Hill was
| asked to bring his maps and plans with
I him.
After dinner the host requested Mr..
| Hill TO unfold his scheme, and then and
| there, Transforming the banquet board
/ into a desk. Mr.. Hill spread out his
maps. opened his memoranda and pro-
| ceeded to deliver a lecture upon the de
icro
lar deal.
The company listened inteLtly. put
many questions. and it was late when
| the American railroad man tucked his
maps under his arm and entered has han
som. He slept profoundly 1t the Carl
ton, and, contrary TO his usual rule. lay
in bed next morning
He had just Tung for his coffee and
was only partly dressed when a servant
knocked and informed Mr. Hin that a
man was outside in the corridor who
was in pressing need Of speaking with
him for moment. as be was about %
sail for South Africa and had but brief
time to spare
Mr. Hill marveled at the haste dis
played by his early visitor. but gave per
mission for him to enter.
A white-haired s0ldierly looking mar
entered, apOlogized for intrusion. saying
that he had but just arrived from India
and was 10 take a steamer within ar
hour for South Africa. He said that h,
desired before leaving to invest in Mr.
Hills American securities.
He assured him that he had beer
much impressed with Mr.. Hills exposi
tion of the scheme at the dinner IN,
night before, and had brought with hin
IN order upon his banker for $3.50. COO, al
the cash he had in the world which hc
desired that Mr. Hill should put into tn,
merger bonds for him at the best possi
ble figures.
Mr.. IIiH was thunderstruck He wa.
flattered. but felt that he ought not tC
permit this stranger TO risk all his money
in single enterprise. and answered
something like this:
My good sir. I am fattered with YOU
trust l believe / am offering you a gooC
Investment but 7 would not put all my
eggs in one basket If I were you. To b,
sure, l shall strive to make this invest
ment highly profitable But all you
money. / will take half of it with pleas
ure and invest it.
The Englishman Immediately froze up
He answered M. Hill: ! came TO YOU
sir, to invest some money, not for advice
There is the order for the money Goot
day, sir and he stalked out of the room
And VINO do you suppose that MAJ
was?' inquired Mr. Hill Of me. .Tha
was Field Marshal Lord Roberts, VIII,
= had just returned home from India an,
was being sent off to command the Brit
: | ish forces in the Boer war
Mr. Hill added that It was a source o
great satisfaction 10 him that he wa
2 enabled through the aid of the Englisl
2 bankers to finance the Great Norther1
f merger. and that he took especial salts
I faction in returning to Lord Roberts S
f for every one that he put into the enter
prise-about 81. 1.250.O00"