The Alaska citizen., 1912-08-05
J. J. Hill, Retiring, Writes
 Story of His Life work
By James J. hIll.

manship of the board of directors ends my active official participation in the conduct of the Great Northern railway company. The work begun stantially accomplished though its results have been extended far be. yond the foresight of any one at that time.
 hope that have earned the leisure which every man looks for who has borne the burden and heat of life's day. The property whose fortunes l have directed for so many years has become an organic growth. Its future will he shaped more by the forces that govern the develop. ment of the natural resources of the country than by individual initiative The present is a favorable time for making the change from an active part in the affairs of the company
 l will remain a member of the executive committee of the board and any services it may need from me will always be at it's command. But it seems wise 10 begin the pro- cess of adjustment to other hands at this time. when all the outlook Is fair and every change may be weighed with deliberation in the light of what is for the best inter. ests Of the property. My natural regret in relaxing the closeness of a relation covering the lifetime of a generation and closely interwoyen with my own is relieved by the knowledge that the property re mains in competent and able hands and is so we'll fortified against pos. sible mischance that its future must be as stable as it's past
 Nearly forty years ago the thought of possible railway enterprise m the Northwest began to occupy my mind. IL was born of experience in Northwestern transportation prob, lens that had occupied most of my early business life, of faith in the productive powers and material re, sources of this part of the country, and of railway conditions at that time
 The feyerish activity in securing railroad concessions in land and cash that marked the sixth decade of the last century had been follow ed by collapse. Doomed as these enterprises were to ultimate failure by their lack of commercial founda ton and financial soundness, they were suddenly wrecked by the panic of 1873 Aside from the Northern Pacific property, the lines in the state of Minnesota most important and available if converted into real old St. Paul X Pacific company. Fol lowing the panic of 1873 these were in the hands of receiver
 After a long and close study oi the situation the slender beginning was made on which We risked ouI all My associates were George stephen, now Lord Mount Stephen Donald A Smith, now Lord Strath coma, and Norman w kittson. We bought the defaulted bonds of these properties from the Dutch holders
 The property secured consisted oi completed lines from St, Paul via St. Anthony to Melrose, a distance Of 104 miles, and from Minneapolis to Breckenridge, a distance of 2O1 miles. and of two projected lines one from Sauk Rapids to Bra a:nerd and one from Melrose to the Red river at St Vincent, on the inter national boundary line.
 In May, 1897, the St Paul, Min neapolis & Manitoba Railway com pany was organized to take over al these properties. It had an au thorized capital stock of ST, DOC, 900 limited by its charter 10 s20000, ,00( and made two mortgages of S8,0nc, 900 each. George Stephen Wal made first president of the company Richard B. August vice president and l was chosen general manager
 Business now grew more and nor, rapidly, the Northern Pacific Wa. about completed and the Canadian Pacific was building toward thu coast. The St. Paul & Pacific rail road was originally, as its name i'm piled. intended as a transcontirenta line.
 In 1887 the lines of the Manitob: were extended to a connection witl the Montana Central which we had with some friends, organized un der the laws of Montana. The tracl was completed to Helena in 1887 and by November IS, 643 miles 0 track had been laid, an average rat of construction of 3l2 miles eacl working day. The total mileag operated had now increased to 3,03 miles. The company had also be gun to operate it's own steamships through the Northern Steamshi company, on the Great lakes
 In 1889 the Great Northern Raj