Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1916-05-30

the whole problem Of river transpor-
| tation. lie gathered no end Of eX-
perienCe and little capital Wlth
which he launched hig own firm or
Hill. Griss & Co. which promptly
displayed its initiative by bringing
the first load of coal that had ever
leen seen in that section into st Paul.
TWO years later, with flat bottomed
steamer he established the first reSu-
lar communication with st. Paul and
the Manitoba ports Of the fertile Red
river valley.
Built Up Oricn; Trade.
HIS faith IN the far east was re-
warded as literally as that in the
northwest. it is estimated that the
Pacific fleet now carries nearly S5O,-
100000 worth of products to the or
lent every year.
While Mr.. lIill hu,lt up for him
self and his associates an immense
fortune he also hetEed to create for
the settlers along mis- lines a wealth
of over 5000 900 tue in real prop
erty which is represented by the val
ne of the .Cur hundred thousand
farms and their siXty-five million
acres of improved land.
Upon his retirement at 60. tine
"streak Of rust" h" had bought 30
wears before, had expanded to more
earring gross profits of more than
S65. 900. 900 a year. ard carrying fif-
teen thousand tons # freight annu-
! ally lie still retained hand in the
| Great Northcrns policy as chairman
cf the board Of directors while his
son Louis. who hal worked up from
the humblcst position Of his fathers
railroad, became president.
The secret of tho iIill success was
! no secret ut all according to Mr. HILL
| and he had no new recipes to offer.
"The man with 1hc big OPT ortunity
| today" he said, 'is the man in the
| ranks" But The secret of flilure he
frequently declared to be eXtrava-
! rance. He regarded this as na-
tional tendency, against wmch ne
strongly set himself particularly as
concerned the natural resources.
lust how active Mr.. Hill was dur
ing the last two years of his life can
be Judged only by little evidences OF
his master hand in matters affecting
the Great Northern railroad, the
First National bank of st. Paul, and
by three outstanding accomplish
ments in which his will and genius
asserted themselves.
From n world viewpoint it would
be hard to say whether his staunch
support of the Belgian people, fol-
lowing the invasion of the Germans
or the part played in the negotia-
tions for the s50O,000,000 loan to
the allied government is the more
important
From a local viewpoint his influ-
ence in the upbuilding of south st.
Paul stockyards, principally through
Inducing Armour & Co. to come to
the suburb. claimed first rank.
Took Leading Part.
From the time the work of sue
coring the Belgians began, Mr.. Hill
took a leading part in the move
ment. 1t will probably pever be
known how much money hs sent to
King Albert, n personal friend, and
how much he induced others to send.
His place as an international fig
lure was never more prominently dis
lplayed than when the representa-
tiyes of the allies came to New York
lin quest of a huge loan. One Of the
first men to be sent for by j. =.
Morgan was Mr. Hill and his assur-
lance that he and the people of the
northwest were prepared to do their
share in taking up the foreign bonds
lis believed to have contributed
largely to the success of the negotia-
Itions