Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-05-29

showed the people how to raise more
wheat to the acre; he made an outlet
for the grain by establishing a cheap
rate by rail and steamship to Buffalo
where he built great elevators; in fact
for upwards of 20 years he left moth
ing in his power undone to develop the
country where he had Staked out his
claim as the great common carrier.
But at the Pacific tide-Water he was
not satisfied for he saw in the orient
still further opportunities. He organ
lied a fleet of Pacific steamships for
the commercial invasion of Japan and
China. Japan at the time wanted steel
rails. but proposed getting them from
England, as the rates were less. 1t is
related that when John W Gates, the
steel magnate of Chicago, came to Hill
with the proposition of getting Ameri-
can rails to Japan, the latter replied:
Il will make you a rate of SIS a ton
from Chicago or Pittsburgh to Ioko-
hama If that is too much, l will carry
| it for the axle grease used on the loco
| motives and freight cars; and if you
can't stand that, | will carry your
| freight for nothing"
At the IS rate named, the American
manufacturer was enabled to secure
| the Japanese contract.
The same tactics were adopted in
getting American wheat and -four into
Japan and China, where rice was the
| staple food.
His faith in the far east was reward
ed as literally as that in the north
west. 1t is estimated that the Pacific
| fleet now carries nearly $4,000, 900
worth of products to the orient every
year
While Mr.. Hill built up for himself
and his associates an immense fortune,
he also helped to create for the set
tiers along along his lines a wealth of
over $5,000,000000 in real property
which is represented by the value of
the 100000 farms and their 65,000,000
acres of improved land.
RetireS From Active Business.
Upon his retirement at So, the
+ streak of rust" he had bought so years
| before, had expanded to more than O.
900 miles and it was earning gross
profits of more than S66,000,000 a
year. and carrying 100000 tons OF
| freight annually. He still retained a
hand in the Great No-thern's policy as
chairman of the board of directors
while his son Louis, who had worked
up from the humblest position Of his
! fathers railroad became president.
| The secret of the Hill success was
no secret at all, according to Mr.. Hill
and he had no new recipes to offer
THE man with the big opportunity TO-
day" he said, lis the man in the ranks
But the secret of failure he frequently
declared to be extravaganza. He re-
garded this as national tendency
against which he strongly set himself
particularly as concerned the natural
| resources.
| During his active supervision of the
| Great Northern system, Mr.. Hill over
saw almost every detail, to the Won
der Of all employees with whom he came
in contact. A fugitive instance Of his
recognition in his own country is the
story of a tourist who declares that
there are afoat in the Swedish section
of the northwest upwards OF 10000
different stories in Swedish dialect
| with YEN He'll" as the Centerpicce
| Patrons of his lines have liked and dis
liked him in rapid alienation, for il
was his point to have his way, not only
where his road should run, but where
his patrons should settle. This was
part of his economic policy. He car
ried out singular regularity in the 10.
cation of branch lines, giving a mini,
mum of short lines on which light
trains were unavoidable. The princi,
pal text of his railway gospel was low
grades, heavy power, large capacity
cars. and big train loads on his MAR
lines, and he began TO preach this at