James J. Hill

James J. Hill was one of the richest railroad executives of his time. His business practices were sometimes unfair, and might be described as unethical, but these strategies helped him to earn the nickname of the “Empire Builder”. One of his companies, the Great Northern Railway, became the first transcontinental railroad to be formed without public money and was one of the few transcontinental lines that did not go bankrupt. Because of the success of his railways and his ability to carry them through economic depression, James J. Hill secured a legacy as one of the greatest business minds in history.

James Hill had very modest beginnings. He was born in Ontario in 1838. As a child, an accident with a bow and arrow blinded him in the right eye. After going to school for only nine years, he went to Rockwood Academy, where he was forced to withdraw due to the death of his father in 1852. He soon moved to Kentucky where he got a job as a bookkeeper. At the age of 18 he moved to St. Paul, MN where he planned to settle permanently. While in St. Paul Hill got a job as a bookkeeper for a steamboat company. He eventually worked for grocery and produce companies, where he dealt with logging their freight. This experience was vital for him in his future work in the railroad business.

In 1870 Hill put all of his experience to good use and formed a steamboat company. The company was very successful and just two years later he merged with Norman Kittson to form a monopoly in the upper Midwest. At the same time he was monopolizing the steamboat industry Hill entered the coal business and just five years later in 1874 he had a monopoly of the coal companies. Along with steamboats and coal companies, Hill also sat on the Board of Directors for several banks. While Hill is best known today as a railroad mogul, it is important to remember that even before his first railroad company he was a very rich man.

James Hill obviously had great instincts and timing in his business decisions, and his entry into railroads was no different. During the panic of 1873 the St. Paul and Pacific railroad went bankrupt. Hill had been researching the company for some time, and decided that it could make a profit given the right management. He then formed a group of investors (included Norman Kittson), and formed the St. Paul, Minneapolis and Manitoba Railway, with Hill as its General Manager. To improve it, the group bargained for tracking rights with the rival Northern Pacific railroad. He soon formed the Great Northern Railway which served Minnesota and North Dakota at first, but grew to become the first intercontinental railroad to be built without public assistance.

Over the next twenty years Hill worked on expanding his railway empire. He purchased railroads from all over the country and cut employees’ wages while charging as high of rates as his monopoly allowed. The only change to his formula was during the Depression of 1893. During this time he slashed prices on all freight in order to make shipping more affordable. At the same time his workers unionized under Eugene V. Debs and demanded better wages. In order to get his workers back he restored their wages to a higher level. During this depression his longtime rival, the Northern Pacific, went bankrupt. Ever the aggressive businessman, Hill used his friend JP Morgan to get enough credit to buy the rail line. He now had a complete monopoly over the railroads. Unfortunately for Hill on the same day the Great Northern and the Union Pacific were set to merge, William McKinley was assassinated and Theodore Roosevelt, ‘the trust buster’, became president.

Hill’s railroads did survive the trust busting, and he remained extremely wealthy. However he would never reach the same heights of monopoly again in his life. Hill died in 1916 and left a fortune of over $53 million, or $2.5 billion 2007 dollars. This fortune was one of the largest of the time and even more extraordinary considering his corporations went through two of the worst depressions in United States history. Hill’s legacy as an empire builder is secured in history and probably will never be matched.

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Benefits of a cycle commute

• You will get fitter.
• You will lose weight (providing you don’t increase your current calorie intake).
• You will be doing your bit to help protect the planet, and, as a result, feel less guilty when you use your car.
• You will be able to avoid all the inconveniences your fellow motoring colleagues will have to deal with. For example, there’s every probability that when there’s a major incident on the roads in the vicinity of your workplace, and everyone’s arriving at work late, you won’t be affected (you can always get off your bike and wheel it past the difficult spots).
• You could very well inspire your colleagues to start cycling to work, which is a great feeling.

These are just a few of the many benefits of cycling to work. Once you give it ago, you are bound to find more. And when you see others following in your footsteps (or tire tracks), you might not be so bothered about the small grease stain on your pants or the few creases in your shirt. You’ll want to wear those badges of honor with pride!

Cycle commute necessities

A helmet should conform to current safety standards, be light in weight, and provide adequate ventilation.

If you’re commuting in winter, then you will almost certainly need lights. Again, lights should conform to current safety standards and be fit for purpose. For example, if your cycle route is mainly off road (along unlit trails), then choose a light that’s designed for cycling in such conditions and not one that’s designed for road cycling (the former will help you see where you’re going, while the latter will help you be seen by others). If in doubt, go to a reputable cycle store and ask for advice.

Make sure your bike is fitted with fenders (mudguards) if you’re not changing your clothes once you get to work. A rear fender will help keep your back free of grime when cycling in wet conditions.

And if you’re still not entirely convinced, consider the benefits…

Central Line – Liverpool St to Tottenham Court Rd

I’ve got a bag today, which seems strange. Must remember it when I get off the Tube. Quiet platform at Liverpool St – train pulls up quickly. I manage to sneak into my favourite place, standing by the glass panel at the end of the seats so I don’t have to hold on to the handrail. Makes it easier to type, less chance of catching something, and it’s quicker to get off.

Stop at St Pauls. I love those old Underground clocks. Chancery Lane, nobody really getting off. Empties a little at Holburn. Nearly my stop. Need to check my email as soon as I get outside. Arrive at Tottenham Court Rd and walk through the crowds on autopilot, typing as I go…

Colchester to London

The 08:37 ’slow train’ pulls up and leaves on time. It’s half empty, probably because of the last 2 days of strikes. Beautiful day today as we fly through the Essex countryside. Woman puts on her makeup with a Metro on her knee.

Catch up on with email and Twitter. Zone out until I notice the sunny countryside views outside. Post a pic on Twitter. Hardly notice that we’ve stopped at Chelmsford. The train fills up now and the makeup woman gets off. Still plenty of seats. I must admit I prefer to stand. I used to hate it and once considered bringing a fold up stool with me on my commute. I never did though.

Win an exclusive tour of London Transport Museum

You can be a part of a London Transport Museum exhibition and win a behind-the-scenes tour.

All you have to do is share your London commuting experiences.

London Transport Museum would like to know where you travel from. How long does it take? How do you pass the time? What’s the strangest/funniest thing to happen to you on your commute?

If your story is selected you win an exclusive tour of the London Transport Museum, and may feature in an exhibition opening in autumn 2009.

Send your story in an email to communities@ltmuseum.co.uk with your name, telephone number and email address.

Good luck!