Judith Gap journal. [volume] (Judith Gap, Mont.) 1908-19??, 1909-11-12
RAILROAD TALK
High Officials Deny Several Rumors Of Jas.
j. nilIs Ambitions.

uu8u O1ssSsaIo Ueuy SeVeT0u k0mOfS Of jas.
j. Hill's Ambitions.
81 know positively that James j.
Hill never wants to own or operate a
railroad east of Chicago. That should
effectually dispose of all gossip to the
end that Hill is planning to organize
Il transcontinental system from the
Atlantic to the Pacific"
So declared Darius Miller, vice
president of the Burlington and Col
orado Il Southern, the closest bust
ness associate of James j. Hill, in an
interview with the Denver Post. In
talk to The Post representative Mr..
Miller continued:
"Mr. Hill figures that it would be
the worst sort of business policy to
operate a railroad east of Chicago.
Under present conditions all roaLs
feed him, whereas if he only had one
line he would lose business and the
other roads would oppose him.
1.-The Burlington, however, will
eventually have through service, via
Denver, between Seattle and Gal
veston."
George Il. Harris, president of the
Burlington. said:
81 can tell you positively that
neither the Burlington nor the Hill
interest has in any way secured an
interest in the Denver Il Rio Grande,
the Western Pacific or the Moffat
roads. But will say just as frankly
that if any such negotiations were
pending would not tell it to the
public.'
Mr.. Harris and Mr.. Miller arrived
in Denver this morning on a special
train at $3.50 O'Clock, accompanied by
other Hill system officials, says the
Post.
Advance reports concerning this
journey have been arriving from New
York for more than a week, predict
ing that James j. Hill is planning to
construct two mammoth transconti-
mental systems-one from east to
west, the other from Seattle to the
Gulf OF Mexico.
1t has also been announced that
Hill is figuring Oh a dominant interest
in the Denver 4 Rio Grande, and the
Western Pacitic-two Gould roads
and that he is negotiating with David
II. Motfat for the purchase Of the
Motfat road. Moreover, Hill is de-
scribed as aspiring to build for him
self greater power than that which
death took from Edward III. Harri-
man.
Darius Miller was far more emplla-
tic than President Harris.
II can positively deny he said,
''that Mr.. Hill has secured any in
terest in the Denver Il Rio Grande or
the Western Pacific. and know such
IA thing is not in contemplation.
Neither is he figuring on buying the
Motiat road OF any interest in it.
~ understand that the Motfat road
has been financed already, and the
Burlington is not in the deal.
''Some day the Burlington will
have a north and south service from
Seattle to Galveston via Denver-it
is bound to come.
''Prosperity seems to reign all over
the east at present and business of
all kinds is improving. 1t has been a
good year for the railroads and the
people as Well"
The question OF "A new private car
line to be owned and operated by the
Hill interests exclusively, but with
shops and headquarters in Denver,
will also be settled while these di-
rector generals of the Hill millions
meet.
The present car famine throughout
the west and southwest, which has
entailed hardships on Colorado farm
ers and fruit growers, has convinced
Hill that more refrigerator cars are
needed for this territory.
For some time James j. Hill and
his lieuten",ts have been planning
details ioi tn organization of IA re-
frigeratOr car manufacturing and
operating company. which could serve
al the Hill lines. This would relieve
the present embarrassment of having
to depend upon the eNigencies which
dominate the refrigerator car trust.
Part of the plan is to establish head
quarters for the refrigerator line in
the Colorado Il southern shops at
Denver. 1t has been estimated that
5000 cars are necessary and these
will cost $! 800 each-a $4,000. 900 in
veStment in all.