New-York tribune., 1910-06-02
]. J. HILL NOT WORR|tO
Hints That Railroads May Fight
Freight Injunction.
EARNINGS ARE INCREASED
No Sales of Securities Abroad
Crop Equipment Ready and
Cars in Plenty.

This country has survived many stupid
things. and 1 think it will survive this pro
ceeding" said James J. Hill, chairman OK
the board of directors Of the Great North
ern Railway. wien asked yesterday for his
opinion regarding the injunction secured
by the government restraining twenty-five
Western railroads from putting in effect
Increases in their freight schedules
Further than this Mr.. Hill refused TO
comment on the subject, except TO say that
II reminded him of a case n which a man
sought to get possession of a farm TO which
he had no legal claim. The jury. Mr.. Hill
said. nevertheless brought in a verdict IN
favor of the plaintiff. which the judge
promptly set aside, remarking that 1t would
take thirteen men in any court over whlch
he presided to steal a mans farm away
from him.
You see.' went on Mr.. Hill. there was
a higher authority than the jury that de-
termined that case, and in this injunction
proceeding there is also a higher autnor-
ity.''
What the higher authority" was IN the
present instance Mr.. Hill did not say out
it is supposed that he meant the United
States Supreme Court, which would !ndi-
cate that the railroads mean to carry the
case to the court of last resort If neces-
Sary.
Mr. Hill returned here only yesterday
from the Northwest where he had been for
several weeks. While away he MADE an
extensive trip over the Northern Pacific
and Great Northern roads in company Win
a numter of bankers and railroad men, IN
cluding George f. Baker. chairman OF the
board of directors of the First National
Bank, and Charles Steele, of j. F. Nor
gan & Co.
Speaking of this trip Mr.. Hill said tnat
he had found the condition of the roads
entirely satisfactory, that crops In tner
territory were excellent and promised an
q bundant harvest, and that business III
general in the Northwest showed steady
An indication of how bust
ness had improved. he said. was the fact
that the earnings of the Great Northern
and Northern Pacific showed an increase
of about 100000 this year over the same
period a year ago He added that he did
not believe the government suit would
have any effect on business in the North
west. as people out there were too busy
to nav much attention to such things
Asked as to the truth of reports that
the Great Northern and Northern Pacific
were going to follow the recent example
of the St Paul and the Big Four in
selling securities abroad, Mr.. Hill said
that they were not contemplating any
thing Of the kind. These rumOrs of pros
pective financing are put out here. he
said. for some purpose or other. but there
is no foundation for them so far as
am aware"
Speaking of the ability of the railroads
10 handle the bumper crops. of which
there was every promise this fall, Mr..
Hill predicted that there would be no diff
ffcuIty in that direction so far as his lines
were concerned. With our equipment.
he added, we could transport all the
grain grown in our territory to the sea-
board in four trips"
If there was any delay. he said. in hand
ling the crops on the part of the railroads,
il would not be caused by lack of cars.
but through lack of adequate terminal
facilities.