The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1916-05-29
JAMES ]. HILL, EN|P|REBU|LDER
DIES AT HIS HOME N ST. PAUL

100000 and collapsed, with its only
assets being "a few streaks Of rust
and right OF way"
Hill had had sufficient success in
the region to be seized with a con-
suming desire to purchase the defunct
property. After five years OF finan-
cial dickering, including the sale Of
all his other interests, which netteu
a fortunte of 100000, he and q syn.
dicate Of three others-Sir Donald A.
Smith. George Stephen and Norman
w. Kittson-obtained the object Of
this desire.
The st. Paul, Minnesota and Mani.
toba railway was formed to operate
the property with Hill as general man
ageri When! in 1888. Mr.. Hill was elect
ed president he undertook thes extern
sion Of the road from its Dakota and
Minnesota homestead to the Pacific
ocean. He was confronted by three
great competitors to the south. each
of which had received big bonuses
as government aid, where as the
Manitoba" or the Great Northern
as 1t came to be known, did not have
a dollar of government subsidy or an
acre OF grant to forward Its progress
from the Minnesota boundary to the
sea.
In this light, Hills plan was widely
deemed pure folly, but he pressed It
to conclusion by building aud popu-
lating as he built. For several years
he laid rails westward at the rate OF
c mile day, and at a cost of $4,000
a mile. and las he went he left trail
Of embryonic farms, by the railside.
With the line OF Puget Sound oncc
laid, he turned Empire Builder. He
introduced the live stock industry In.
to vast areas of buncn.grass plains,
and developed them by importing
blooded stock; he sent demonstra.
tion 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 establish.
ing cheap rate by rail an steamship
to Buffalo where he built great els-
vators; in fact for upwards Of 20
years he left nothing in his power
undone TO develop the country where
he had staked out his claim as thu
great common 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. cama
to Hill with the proposition OF getting
Americans rails to Japan, the latter
replied: =
81 will make you a rate Of IS a
ton from Chicago or Pittsburgh to
Yokohama. II that is too much, | will
carry 1t, for the axle grease used on
the locomotives and freight cars; and
iflyou can't stand that L will carry
your freight for nothing"
At the IS 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.
warded as literally as that in the
Northwest. 1t Is estimated that the
Pacific feet now carries nearly $780,
100000 worth of products to the ori.
ent every year.
While Mr.. Hill built up for himself
and his associates an immense fortun :.
he also helped to create foD the set
tiers along his lines a wealth of over
five billion dollars in real property,
which is represented by the value OF the
100000 farms and their ! &C, 900 900
acres Of improved land.
Upon his retirement at 60, the
"streak of rust he had. bought. 80
years before, had expaned to more
than 5000 miles and It was earning
gross profits of more than s66,ooo, 900
a year, and carrying 15,00o,O0O tons
of freight annually. He still retain.
ed hand In the Great Northern's
policy as chairman Of the board Of al.
Continued on page ten.)