J. J. HILL
Will Speak to Local People in the Armory at 8:30 Tonight – First Bemidji Visit – Has An Important Message to all Interested in City’s Development – Master of Millions
It behooves every person interested in the development of Bemidji to attend the Hill meeting in the Armory tonight. Mr. Hill has it within his power to assist materially in the growth of this city and the men who have brought him here to speak want him to see that this is a live town with citizens who are always alert to better the conditions which they live.
Mr. Hill has something to say to the farmers and it is expected that his talk will be along lines of agricultural development. What he has to say will be of interest to every man and woman of the city as well. He is the “Empire Builder,” the man in whose hands centers the power of millions of dollars. He has never been here before. He must be made to see that Bemidji is the hub, the real center, of northern Minnesota. Once seeing that, Mr. Hill is sure to make the improvements needed in local Great Northern property.
This is a personal invitation from the directors of the Commercial club to every man and woman in Bemidji to be in the Armory at 8:30 tonight. Come yourself and bring five with you! (The Bemidji Daily Pioneer, Wednesday Evening, April 24, 1912, Volume 9, Number 305, Page 1)
HILL PROMISES A NEW BRICK DEPOT
Says Great Northern Will Build a Good One and That Work Will Start at Once
What Mr. Hill Said. 1. “We will build a good depot, one of which Bemidji can be proud. Have you a good brick yard here? We will need lots of brick this summer. Work will start at once.”
Bemidji is to have a new Great Northern depot. James J. Hill, chairman of the board of directors of the Great Northern, so said in his speech in the Armory last night. He further promised that work would start at once and that it would be completed before the fall shipments of farm products. The building is to be of brick and will probably be located just to the east of the water tank and tool house.
Mr. Hill’s special train arrived in the city at 5:20 last evening. As it slowed to a stop, the empire builder was seen struggling into an overcoat and looking intently at the Union depot which could be plainly seen from the Great Northern tracks. Immediately upon stepping from his private car, Mr. Hill looked long and closely at the Great Northern depot. When the Commercial club directors were introduced, he said, “We will build a good depot” (and he emphasized the “good”) “one of which Bemidji will not be ashamed.”
In the Armory, Mr. Hill found a crowd in spite of the fact that there were other strong attractions last evening. From the moment he was introduced by Mr. Burke, chairman of the entertainment committee of the Commercial club, Mr. Hill held the attention of his audience and for an hour and a half his words were eagerly received. After his speech he went to his car and the special left at 10:30. (The Bemidji Daily Pioneer, Thursday Evening, April 25, 1912, Volume 9, Number 306, Page 1)