Episode 2 - 290121 Part 2 of 3 in the story of James J. Hill

Click here to go to my earlier blog post for an explanation of the episode header

The second installment in a 3-part presentation on the life of James J. Hill dramatized the story of a rough but rewarding trip. In this story, Jim Hill traveled from St. Paul to Winnipeg (then still called Fort Garry) in March of 1870, when wintry conditions dictated travel by dog sled. Hill needed a guide to help him, and options were slim. He enlisted the aid of a man that he did not completely trust, who did ultimately turn against him in an attempt to steal the provisions he was hauling. Hill chased the man off, sending him in the direction of an outpost settlement.

James J. Hill, the "Empire Builder"

Hill continued on his way, where he had a chance encounter with Donald Smith, Chief Factor for the Hudson’s Bay Company and eventually knighted as Lord Strathcona and Mount Royal. These two men soon realized they shared a similar vision for the future of transportation in the Red River country. 

Sir Donald Smith, aka Lord Strathcona and Mount Royal

[In real life, these two men did meet, and became business associates. They were instrumental in the creation of the Canadian Pacific Railway. In 1871, Jim Hill was operating a steamboat, the Selkirk, and a year later formed the Red River Transportation Line.]

After a segue narrated by the Pioneer (Old Timer), the story of Jim Hill’s life continued with the telling of the delivery of the first steam locomotive to Winnipeg in 1877 – dubbed “Countess of Dufferin,” and named after the wife of Lord Dufferin, Canada’s governor-general.



Countess of Dufferin, first locomotive of the Canadian Pacific Ry.
Contributed by Arthur Grieve to the CPR Steam Locomotives web site.

A press release issued prior to the broadcast listed this network of stations over which the Empire Builders program was to air:

 

 

WEAF, New York	WEEI, Boston	WOW, Omaha
WTIC, Hartford	WJAR, Providence	WKY, Oklahoma City
WTAG, Worcester	WCSH, Portland, Maine	WTMJ, Milwaukee
WLIT, Philadelphia	WRC, Washington	WGN, Chicago
WGY, Schenectady	WGR, Buffalo	KYW, Chicago
WCAE, Pittsburgh	WTAM, Cleveland	KSTP, St. Paul
WWJ, Detroit	WEBC, Superior	KOA, Denver
KSD, St. Louis	WOC, Davenport	KHQ, Spokane
WMC, Memphis	WDAF, Kansas City	KOMO, Seattle
WBT, Charlotte	WHAS, Louisville	KGW, Portland, Ore.
KPRC, Houston	WSB, Atlanta	KPO and KGO, San Francisco
WFAA, Dallas	WOAI, San Antonio	KFI, Los Angeles