El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1916-05-29

valley, and there were about 100 miles
OF track which began nowhere and
ended IN that same indefinite spot
ms venture ran up debt OF SSS,uVV.-
yvg and collapsed. with its only assets
being "a few streaks OF rust and 4
! right OF way"
Hill had had sufficient success IN
. the region to be seized with a con-
Stunning desire to purchase the de-
Iunct property. After five years or
financial dickering. including the sale
Of all his other interests. which netted
a fortune Of 500. 600. he and a Synol-
cate Of three others-Sir Donald A
Smith. George SteLhen and Norman W
hittson-Obtained the object OF this
desire
Building TO the Coast
The St Paul. Minnesota and Mani
toba railway was formed to operate
The property, with Hill as general
manager. When in 1888 MI hlll was
elected president he undertook the
and Minnesota homestead to the Pa
clfic ocean He was confronted by
three great competitors to the south.
each OF which had received big DO
muses. as government aid. whereas the
Manitoba" or the Great Northern, as
II came 10 be known, did not have
dollar OF government subsidy or an
acre Of grant to forward its progress
from the Minnesota boundary to the
sea.
In this light. HIS plan was widely
deemed pure folly. but he pressed II 10
conclusion by building and pOpulating
as he built For several years lie laid
rails Westward at the rate Of mile
day, and at a cost OF $4,000 a mile,
and as he went he left trail Of en-
oryonic farms by the railside-
Becomes Empire Builder.
With the line to Puget Sound once
laid, he turned empire builder he
introduced the livestock industry into
vast areas Of bunch grass plains, and
developed them by importing niooded
stock, he sent demonstration trains
through the country with men who
showed the people how 70 raise more
wheat to the acre: he made an outlet !
for the grain by establishing q cheap /
rate by rail and steamship 10 Buffalo |
where he built great elevators; in TACT ]
Tor upwards Of 20 years ne leII noun
ing in his power undone 10 develop /
the country where he had staked out |
his claim as the great common car
rier
But al the Pacific tide water he |
was not satisfied for he saw IN the 4
Orient still further opportunities he /
organized a fleet Of Pacific steam !
ships for the commercial INVASION OF Il
Japan and China Japan at the time /
wanted steel rails. but proposed get
ling them from England. as the rates 4
were less II is related that when /
John ". Gates. the steel magnate OF
Chicago. came TO Hill with the propo-
sitiOn Of getting American rails 70
Japan, the latter replied;
Made the Ratez Low.
7 VIII make you a rate Of IS a TO
rom Chicago OF Pittsburg TO fOko-
lama. If that is too much, 1 VIII
AIRY il for the axle grease used on |
he locomotives and freight cars; and
( YOU can't stand that. [ viii carry
-our freight for nothing
AT the SIS rate named. the American
was enabled to secure
he japanese contract
The same tactics were adopted in
.ettinE American wheat and flour into
apan and China where rice was the
taple food
His faith in the Far East was re-
-arded as literally as that in the
.crthwest. II is estimated that the
pzcific fleet now carries nearly 500
ID. 600 worth OF products to the Orient
very year
nuiII immense Fortune.
While Mr. Hill built up for himself
nd his associates an immense fortune ]
ie also helped to create for the set
lers along his lines a wealth OF over
i've billion dollars in real property,
which is represented by the value OF !