The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-05-29


Valley, and there were about 100 miles
of track which began nowhere and
ended in that same indefinite spot
This venture ran up a debt of 5$33,-
100000 and collapsed. with its only
assets being "a few streaks of rust
and right of way
Builder and Promoter.
Hill had had sufficient success in
the region to be seized with a con-
Stunning desire to purchase the defunct
property. After five years of financial
dickering, including the sale of all his
other interests, which netted fortune
of 500, 900, he and a syndicate of
three others-Sir Donald A. Smith,
George Stephen, and Norman W. Kilt
son,-obtained the object of this de-
sire.
Line Laid to Puget Sound
With the line to Puget. Sound once
laid, he turned empire builder. He in
troduced the live stock industry into
vast areas of bunch-grass plains, and
developed them by importing blooded
stock; he sent demonstration trains
through the country with men who
showed the people how to raise more
wheat to the acre; he made an outlet
for the grain by establishing cheap
rate by rail and steamship to Buffalo
where he built great elevators; in
fact, for upwards of 20 years ne left
nothing in his power undone to de-
velop the country where he had
staked out his claim as the great COM
mon carrier.
But at the Pacific tide-water he was
not satisfied for he saw in the orient
still further opportunities. He or
ganized 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
American rails to Japan, the latter
replied:
Ship Rails .sfor Nothing
st will make you a rate of IS ton
from Chicago or Pittsburg TO Y oko-
hama. If that is too much. Will car
nv it for the axle grease used on the
locomotives and freight cars; and II
you can't stand that, I will carry your
freight for nothing
At the So rate named, the American
manufacturer was enabled TO secure
| the Japanese contract.
/ The same tactics were adopted IN
getting American wheat and flour IN
| to Japan and China, where rice was
| the staple food.
His faith in the Far East was re-
waroed as literally as that in the
northwest. 1t is estimated that the
Pacific fleet now carries nearly Soo,-
100000 worth of products to the
| Orient every year
! L.
self and his associates an immense
| fortune. he also helped to create for
the settlers along his lines wealth
| of over five billion dollars in real
property, (which is represented by the
value of the 400, 900 farms and their
65, e00, 600 acres of improved land.
/ Upon his retirement at SO, the
| streak of rust he had bought 80
years before, had expanded to more
than 5000 miles and it was earning
| a year, and carrying 100000 tons
| of freight annually. He still retained
a hand in the Great Northern'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.
No Secret for Success.
The secret of the Hill success was
no secret at ALL according to Mr.. Hill
and he had no new recipes to offer.
1.-The man with the big opportunity
today" he said, lis the man in the
ranks" But the secret of failure he
frequently declared to be extrava-
tional tendency, against which he
strongly set himself, particularly as
concerned the natural resources.
The principal text of his railway
gospel was low grades, heavy power.
large capacity cars, and big train
to preach this at a time when these
things were held as visionary by most
railway men.
Promoter of Great System.
In contrast with the late E. H. Har-
riman, who outdid him in the extent
of railway ownership, Mr.. Hill was
not only the financial head, but the
practical head, of his great railway
system. He was the chief promoter
and president of the Northern Securi-
ties company, organized with pur-
pose to bring the Northern Pacific
and Great Northern under one owner
ship, to which such opposition de-
United States circuit court, which de-
cided that the acquisition was an IL
legal combination-affirm in March
1904, by the United States supreme
| court.
Active in War Loan.
For several years James J. Hill had
been in the habit of insisting both tc
: his friends and to the public that he
was not actively engaged in business
; Just how active he was during the
last two years of his life can be judged
only by little evidences of his master
hand in matters affecting the Great
l Northern road and the First Nationa,
bank of st. Paul and by three out.
r standing accomplishments in which hi
S will and genius asserted themselves
From a world viewpoint it would bt
hard to say whether his Staunch sup
port of the Belgian people following
the invasion of the Germans. or tn,
part played in the negotiations for tn,
$500, 900, 900 loan to the allied gov
| ernments is the more important. From
I each local viewpoint his influence il
9 the upbuilding of South st. Paul stock
: yards principally through the decision
= of Armour and Company to come t.
. the suburb. claimed first rank.
t Sent Large Sum to Belgians.
From the time the work of succor
ing the Belgians began, Mr.. Hill tool
: a leading part in the movement.
will probably never be known HOY
It much money he sent to King Albert
= a personal friend, and how much h
O induced others to send.
e His place as an international figur