Great Northern Railroad Arrives in Spokane
President James J. Hill arrives to finalize depot plans as the transcontinental line pushes westward toward the coast.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
President Hill, of the Great Northern, arrived in Spokane this afternoon. Mr. Hill today completed arrangements for the use of the union depot and the Seattle, Lake Shore & Eastern track. He stated that work west of the city will not be delayed longer. Grading is finished west to the Columbia River, and it is probable that track laying will be commenced tomorrow. General offices will be opened in the union depot in a few days. While the city welcomed the progress, faith in Mr. Hill's promises was somewhat shaken when his tariff sheets arrived and were found to be almost identical with those of the Northern and Union Pacific roads, disappointing those hoping for cheaper rates.
“Faith in Mr. Hill's assurance that it was his intention to fulfill every promise was somewhat shaken when his tariff sheets arrived.”
The expansion of the Great Northern Railroad was the 'boom' event of the 1890s for the Inland Northwest, effectively connecting regional economies to national markets. The tension over railroad monopolies and rate-fixing mentioned here remains a core theme in the economic history of Washington State's infrastructure development.
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