The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1908-12-13
FORESH!ADOWSA
NEW STEAMSHIP
LINE TO NORTH
Visit of Great Northern's Presi-
dent May Be Followed by
Service TO Portland
Hill Comes to Study Situation
Before Placing Vessels
On the Run
Speaks 0ptimisticaIIy of San
Francisco as Future Center
of Foreign Trade

new steamship fine between San
rancisco and Portland, equipped for
AiS n class passenger service is fore
Snadowed in the present visit to this
ctlA OF Louis ". Hill, president Of the
Steat Northern railroad, and Francis
b. clarke, one Of HIS ablest lieuten-
anus AIN and Clarke have begun an
lhNestig cation into local conditions,
ana while making no positive declar-
aDons, gave out strong intimations
yesterday that they were prepared TO
place two big vessels on the run. This
VIII not only provide opposition to the
hartman steamship line. but will give
me Hin interest direct communica-
ton, under their own management,
with san Francisco.
No RAIL EXTENSIONS
Although il had been reported that
ran extensions Of the Hin system
toward San Francisco We're contem-
plated, the young railroad president
said that no such project had been
planned.
We are looking into the situation"
SAID Hin. and if conditions warrant
80 snail place two vessels on the
run between san Francisco and Port
land The vessels are 400 feet long
ana as line rs any in the coast trade
n snail make a speciality of high
class passenger traffic. We regard
The san Francisco Portland business. in
the same way as the Chica go New
York traffic is regarded IN the east
foFtland has experienced a remark
able growth. It has practical Iv
doubled its population in five years
As Tar as san Francisco is concerned
MS future Is assured. 1t is a city of
unlimited possibilities. As I look ont
Of the window over these new build
lnSs on every hand the view suggests
New York"
GIFTED YOUNG RAILROAD CHIEF
Hin is one Of the youngest railroad
presidents in the United States and is
Entrusted with responsibilities that
usually devOlve upon much older shoul-
ders. Although only 80 years old. he
mas under his direct control more than
5000 miles Of railroad. He has been
educated for his great task in the
school OF experience as well as in the
highest colleges Of the country. After
course at Phillips Exeter academy
ne studied at Yale. After his gradu-
alton from Yale young Hill took
position with the Great Northern
which the genius Of his father, J. J.
HIil was then bringing 10 a foremost
position in the railroad world. The
younger Hill showed such a natural
pent for the work that when his father
retired from the presidency last year
ne was elected TO the position.
Hin has little in common with the
generally accepted type OF railroad
magnate- he suggests the scholar and
the thinker rather than the brusoue
nnancler who gauges life by bonds
and dividends. HilI is a keen student
OF conditions, and makes it his policy
10 build up the region through which
has lines travel and to cooperate with
the residents of the tributary country
Clarke, who is accompanying Hin is
president Of the Spokane. Portland
and Seattle railroad. the new road along
the north side OF the Columbia river.
and also chief executive Of the Astoria
and Columbia river railroad.
CARES FOR HOME TRADE
Hin spoke Interestingly yesterday OF
oriental trade conditions and the de-
Nelopment Of the northwest:
oriental trader. he echoed. 1T is
myth, we have none. Furthermore
we have enough TO do at present to
Ike care OF our trade at home Be
sides, how can we look for trade with
the orient when we subject their dip
lOmats and even their princes to the
BertflIon system before we permit them
10 set foot on our soil2 A foreign
trade comes with colonization The
trade Of the orient is now in the hands
Of Germany and Great Britain. The
United States hardly figures While
conditions remain as they are the
American merchant marine viii remain
= it is and the oriental trade VIII con-
tfnue TO 90 TO other countries"
Hill appeared to regard San Fran
cisco as the natural center for a large
foreign trade
Conditions in the northwest are I'M