Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-05-30
James ]. Hill,
AgedFinancier
Dies in St. Paul
Railroad Builder and Most
Noted Figure in Northwest
Passed Away Monday After
a Long Illness
(By Associated Press.)

ST PAUL, Mimi. May 29.-James J.
Hill, railroad builder, capitalist and
most widely known figure of the north
west. died at his Summit avenue resi-
dence at $3.50 O'clock this morning as the
result of an affection due to bowel trou-
ble
Mr.. Hill was unconscious for nearly
twelve hours before he died. DR.. Her
man NJ. Biggs and DR.. Stanley Seager,
with members of the immediate Hill
family, were at the bedside when the
END came.
Mr.. Hills personal secretary, NJ. r.
Grown, made the announcement of his
employers demise to waiting newspaper
correspondents at the Hill residence His
statement was made verbally with the
iEtimation that written bulletin might
be issued later.
Questioned regarding date for obse-
auies, Mr.. Brown said that no arrange
mcnts had been discussed.
After the relapse late yesterday, the
aged financier failed rapidly. All the
members of his family were at the bed
side with the exception of Mrs. M.
Beard, of New York, daughter. She Is
expected to arrive tonight.
MY father slept most of the night"
Louis w. Hill said.
Finally at 9:45 a. m, NJ. r. Brown,
Mr.. Hilps confidential secretary, came
out and said to the newspaper report
ers:
mr.. Hill died quietly at $780,"
The last letter sent to Mr.. Hill was
received five minutes after he died. 1t
was from United States Judge Sanborn
Just as Mr.. Hill was dying two Little
Sisters of the Poor approached the
house. They extended their sympathy
and departed.
One of the first to leave the house
was John j. Toomey, Mr.. Hills conf
Dental business agent, and an associate
for years.
L. w. Hill left the house with the
Rev. Thomas ]. Gibbons, vicar-general
of the ST. Paul arch diocese and George
MACPHERSON, intimate friend of the fam
lily Grief showed plainly on the face
of the elder Hills successor.
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 questions affecting the Great
Northern railroad and the First National
bank of st. Paul and by three outstand-
ing accomplishments in which his will
and genius asserted themselves.
From a world viewpoint it would be
hard to say whether his staunch sup
port Of the Belgian people, following
the invasion of the Germans, or the
part played in the negotiations for the
$500, 000, 900 loan to the allied govern
ments, is the more important.
From the time the work of succor
ing the Belgians began Mr.. Hill took
a leading part in the movement. tt
will probably never be known how much
money he sent to King Albert, an old
personal friend, and how much he in
duced others to send.
His place as an international flgurel
was never more prominently displayed
than when the representatives of the
allies came to New York in quest Of
a huge loan. One of the first men to-
be sent for by ]. P. Morgan was Mr..
Hill and his assurance that he and tho
people of the northwest were prepared
to do their share in taking up the for
eign bonds is believed to have contrib
uted largely to the success of the ne
gotiations.
His claim to being the original ad
vocate of live stock development in the
northwest is unquestioned, and since the
retirement of A. p. Stickney, he had been
most ardent proponent of the upbuilding
of the industry at this center, work
which has been taken up by his son,
Louis w. Hill