The Washington times., 1916-05-29

agent for the st. Paul and Pacific Rail-
way Company (the nucleus OF the pres
ent great Hill system) receiving and
transferring freight to and from steam
on the river bank which stood until q
few years ago. In the meantime he had
also entered the fuel business In a small
way. and In the year 1889 he entered into
George Armstrong. e. N. Saunders and
George 8. Acker, under the firm name
OF Hill. Griggp q Co., in the fuel bust
ness. and this firm brought In the nrst
boat used In 81. Paul.
His connection with the firm of Hill.
Griggs & Co. lasted until 1875. In
the meantime. In 1870, Hill embarked
In the first of those ventures which
later made him famous. by founding
the Red River Transportation Com
river Of the. North. connecting at the
end of the st. Paul and Pacific. and
running to the city of Winnipeg. II
was big undertaking for a man OF
at that time. He paid $40. 1000 for his
first steamer. and other expenses were
numerous and heavy. The result jus
tilted his Judgment, however. and his
tumn of 1871 he effected a consolida-
ton with the competing line owned
by Norman w. Kittson. operating be-
tween Moorehead. MINI, and Winni-
U.
time was agent for, the Hudson Bay
Company. and associated with him
and Hill vas Sir Donald A. Smith
chief commissioners OF the Hudson Bay
Company.
Takes Up Railroading.
! The people OF Minnesota had In the
meantime become infected with tn,
railway fever. Back in the SOS, tn,
Territorial Legislature had made Q
grant of land to ehe st. Paul and Pa,
cific Company. but nothing came Of II
and the action was rescinded. In 1856
he Minnesota and Pacific was incor
porated and the old ST. Paul and Pa
so SAs 'S Yasas over w 10 on Th
was begun. but soon abandoned OWNS
to the panic which swept over tn,
Icountry and made II Impossible to OBJ
tain funds for carving on the enter
was the proposed line built. but 1t did
not prove paying investment, anS
In 1873 went into the hands of a re
; ceiver. D.. =
Hill, who in the meantime had &C
cumulated fortune of about 500. 900
and who was convinced that the roa,
onered great poss utilities under prop
er management. interested a number
OF British and Canadian capitalists In hi
plans, and formed a stock company
which purchased the securities OF tn
railroad company at a very low rate
i When the mortgage was foreclosed. Hi
and his associates bid In the property
| The company was reorganized as tn,
ST. Paul. Minneapolis and Manitobi
Railroad Company. with Lord Noun
Stephen. then Just plain George ste
phen, as president. and Mr.. Hill a
general manager.
When the new company took contro
OF the road II comprised 49, miles o
track. and the additions immedIatel,
made amounted to go miles. making
total OF. 667 miles. This was capitalize,
at 81. 100000. At the end of their firs
year the equipment consisted OF sixty
five locomotives. sixty-nine passenger
baggage, and express cars, and 1852
freight and work cars Of all sorts an,
descriptions. The marvellous success o
the ENTERPRISE was due In a large meas
ure to the skillful management by Mr.
Hill. who had shown himself not onl.
a man Of remarkable foresight. but
flnancier of unusual ability.
In 1898 the Great Northern railwa.