Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-05-30

tanned the object Of this desire
The st. Paul. Minnesota and Mani
toba Hallway was formed to operate
the property. with Hill as general man
ager When. In 1883. Mr.. Hill was
elected president, he undertook the ex-
tension OF tho road from Its Dakota
and Minnesota homestead to the Pa
cihc Ocean. He was confronted by
three great competitors to the South,
each OF which had received big bonuses
as government aid. whereas tho Mani
toba." or the Great Northern, as IL
came TO BIO known. did not have Il dol
lar Of government subsidy or an acre
of grant TO forward It's progress from
the Minnesota boundary to the sea.
In this light. Hilrs plan was widely
deemed pure folly. but he pressed 1t
to conclusion by building and popu-
lating as he built. For several years
he laid rails westward at the rate Of
a mile day, and ut n cost OF $4,000
u mile. and as he went no left trail
OF embryonic farms by the railside.
IMPORTS BLooDED STOCK
TO BUNCH-GRASS PLAINS
With tho line to Puget Sound once
laid. he turned empire builder. He
introduced 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 n cheap
rate by rail- and steamship to Buffalo,
where he built great elevators; in fact.
for upwards of twenty years he left
nothing in his power undone to de-
velop the country where he had staked
out his claim as the great common
carrier.
But at the Pacific tidewater he was
not satisfied, for he saw in the Orient
still further opportunities. He organ
lied 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. It
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 re-
piled:
II will make YOU rate OF IS a ton
from Chicago or Pittsburgh to Yoko-
hama. II that is too much, I will carry
it for the axle grease used on the loco
motives and freight cars; and If you
can't stand that. I will carry your
freight for nothing"
At the SIS rate named, the American
manufacturer was enabled to secure
the Japanese contract.
The same tactics were adopted in
getting American wheat and -four into
staple food.
His faith in the Far East was re-
wardcd as literally as that in the
Northwest. II is estimated that the
Pacific feet now carries nearly $780,
0oo, 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 his lines a wealth Of over
$1,000 100000 in real property. which
| is represented by the value of the 400
900 farms and their 100000 acres
Of improved land.
Upon his retirement at sixty-nine,
the streak of rust he had bought
thirty years before, had expanded to
more than 5000 miles, and 1t was earn
ling gross profits OF more than $685.
! 100000 year, and carrying 100000
tons of freight annually. He still re-
tanned a hand in the Great Northerns
policy as chairman of the board of d.
rectors, while his son. Louis, who had
worked up from the humblest position
| of his fathers railroad became presi-
ident.
SECRET OF HIS SUCCESS
NO SECRET AT ALL, HE SAYS
The secret Of the Hill! success was no
secret at all, according to MIR. 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-
earded this as national tendency.
against which he strongly set himself.
particularly as concerned the natural
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 ne
! came in contact a fugitive instance
! IN n
! is the story OF a tourist who declares
| that there are anoat in the Swedish
| section of the Northwest upwards or
! 10 900 different stories IN Swedish uia :
lcct with YEN He'll" as the center :
Niece Patrons of his lines have liked
and disliled 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 pohcE'
He carried out singular regularity
! in the location OF branch lines. CIV
| ing a minimum of short lines on which
light trains were unavoidable. the
principal text OF his railway gospel
was low grades. heavy power. large
| capacity cars. and big train loads on
his main lines. and he hogan TO preach
this at time when these things were
! held as visionary by most railway
men.
! In contact with the late f. II. 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 ownership
I to which such opposition developed
| that suit was brought in the United
States Circuit Court. which decided
| that the acquisition was an illegal
Observation-Disclosures IN March, 191 4
by the United States Supreme Court
| For several years James ]. Hill had
insisted, both to his friends and to the
public, that he was not actively en-
| gagged 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 questions affecting the
| Great Northern Railroad and the First
National Bank OF st. Paul, and by three
outstanding accomplishments in which
his will and genius asserted them