Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1908-05-13

leadership and personality of the
builder were unique. This is the
only transcontinental road that was
constructed and settled |
through the energy and ability of |
one man.
Those who have known Mr.. James |
j. Hills life somewhat in detail dur
ing the last forty years know him to
be a leader in the upbuilding of the
northwestern states. He was born in
Canada, and his early manhood was
spent there. He educated and prepar-
ed himself through his own efforts.
He was brought up under the strict
lines of economy. At that time Can
ada was not blessed with much pros
perity, and it's early settlers did not
have an opportunity to realize much
from their labors.
'sHe left there a young man and
followed the trail to the head OF
navigation on the Mississippi, name
ly, St. Paul, where, without capital
or fame, and with nobody to rely up
on but himself, he began his COM
mercial life.
'sMr. Hill was not educated on Wall
street, but he had the power to anal
we the value of this great north
western territory, and after the CON-
pletion of the st. Paul, Minneapolis
& Manitoba Railway he began to
push his road through to the Pacific
ocean. He had the power of leader
ship, and the ability to surround
himself with men of finance, and he
| pushed his steel rails across the
prairies Of North Dakota, which was
then considered nothing btu a graz
ing country. Reaching further to
the west, he built the road across
the states of Montana, Idaho and
Washington, where there was no
sign of vegetation except the sage
brush and cactus. This country was
| considered by all, and especially by
scientific men and biologists, to be
absolutely worthless. He built his
road over dangerous mountains and
treacherous rivers, and finally ar
hived at the tidewaters of the Paci-
fic ocean, with Seattle as the termi-
| nus.
cat that time this city was not
considered of any great Importance
and its future among the masses
did not seem to be particularly
bright.
despite the general opinion that
this great northwest was worthless
waste, Mr.. Hill conceived, through
his analytic mind, that prairies Of
I North Dakota needed only intelli.
gent farming to make them golden
with grain. He also understood that
irrigation would make possible the
most productive orchards and alfalfa
fields, and would crowd and push
away for ever the sage brush and
cactus He understood that the
mountains were full of minerals, an6
that the swift mountain rivers could
be harnessed for power purposes thai
would be of great commercial value
While Mr.. Hill was optomistic
others scoffed at him, and after hi
had succeeded in bringing his roai
to the coast he proceeded to spend
his money literally in the middle
and eastern states, educating thu
people to the value of the grea
northwest, and he has done every
thing since to improve the condition
of his clientage on both sides of hi
track, by encouraging better seet
and better methods, SO that full
devidend could be realized by thos
who had settled tributary to his line
Among railroad men Mr.. Hill i
looked upon as a great constructo
o and builder, and in matters of trans
G portation, not only in this countr!
1 but throughout the world, he
G simply court of last resort. Hi
information is broad and accurate
q and he has a wonderful faculty G
having his knowledge under hi
. hat" and with him at all times.
> Ellis whole life has been spent
! development-not speculation. n
not only knpws the Northwestern
: states, but he is a close student {
n the conditions and the progress mad
) by other countries, and he has a
q accurate knowledge of the econom
| conditions of the world
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