The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1916-05-30
HILL, THE GREAT BUILDER

James j. Hill was man OF ac-
ton; man Of wisdom. He was,
therefore, more than commanding
figure among the railway pioneers
in this country, many and illustrious.
He was more even than an empire
builder, as he has been SO often
called, for he could build an empire
and he could preserve II.
Hill went to the bottom Of every
thing he touched. A poor boy, with
only a slight school education, he
grew to be man who studied eco
nomics-and that always means his
tory, too-like 4 college professor,
finance like a banker, politics like q
statesman.
He went through the most danger
Gus period the railroads Of this coun-
try have known with the Govern
ment trying TO tear them to pieces
and with the public urging on the
Government until the consequences
began to come home upon the public
itself-and he went through 1t with
singular success. This was because
Hill always looked SO far ahead,
always kept in touch with what was
going on everywhere, always listened
to those with whom he did not agree,
rather than to those with whom he
did agree, so that he might reach a
clearer judgment.
James J. Hill was genius of pre-
paredness when he built thousands
and thousands Of miles Of railroad
trackage out into the Northwest to
haul the grain which he saw must
come from there If this country and
the world were to be properly fed;
the humber and the wool which were
to come from there II they were Ia
be properly housed and clothed; the
minerals which were to come from
there if the progress Of the greatest
industrial era in history were to &c
on unabated.
James ]. Hill was a genius Of pre-.
paredness when he saw that public
opinion must be met regarding the
obligations of the railroads to the
people If the people were to be con
WINGED that the rights Of the rail
roads should be preserved; that. there
must be fair treatment on the one
side for there to be fair treatment OF
the other side; that the railroads
could not thrive IL the people did no
thrive, as the people could not thrive
if the railroads did not thrive.
James ]. Hill was a genius Of pre-
paredness when he got ready for tn,
attacks of the Federal and State gov
ernments upon railroads long befor'
they were made. None Of the "Hil
roads" were ruined, none Of then
came anywhere near being ruined b.
the abnormal results of railway reg
ulation because, since he saw /
coming and saw it coming unescap
ably, he perfected his organization il
time to meet it, jammed down hi
operating expenses and otherwis
put his properties into such condi
ton that they almost prospere
while older and greater and richie
transportation systems were carrie
to the verge Of ruin.
And James J. Hill has been
genius of preparedness in these re
cent days when he has sought t
teach railway labor and the. publ
that the next great danger Of tn
American transportation system an
of the American people is excessiv
operating costs forced upon the raj
roads by political condition whic
permits labor to exact hundreds an
: hundreds Of millions of dollars NOR
from the carriers for wages, but doe
not permit tie carriers, withor
special dispensation--to be game
only through years of effort an
5 argument-to obtain from the Coz
eminent a penny of increased trait
rates with which to meet those hun
: dreds of ,millions of increased wage
II