Northern Securities Company

American company

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July 1, 2026

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The Northern Securities Company was an American holding company formed in 1901 by railroad magnate James J. Hill. Its purpose was to control three major railroads: the Great Northern Railway Company, the Northern Pacific Railway Company, and the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Company. Hill aimed to consolidate these lines to create a powerful transportation network.12

However, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 1904 that the Northern Securities Company violated the Sherman Anti-Trust Act, which prohibited monopolies and trusts that stifled competition. The court ordered the company's dissolution. Despite this, the railroads remained financially linked and eventually merged in 1970 to form the Burlington Northern, Inc..12

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Great Northern Railway Company
…year, Hill set up the Northern Securities Company, a holding company to control the three railroads, with himself as president. The U.S. Supreme Court declared it in violation of the Sherman Anti-Trust Act in 1904 and ordered the company dissolved. The Burlington continued under control of the Great Northern and…
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…year, Hill set up the Northern Securities Company, a holding company to control the three railroads, with himself as president. The U.S. Supreme Court declared it in violation of the Sherman Anti-Trust Act in 1904 and ordered the company dissolved. The Burlington continued under control of the Great Northern and…
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Theodore Roosevelt
The Square Deal of Theodore Roosevelt
…a huge railroad conglomerate, the Northern Securities Company. Roosevelt pursued this policy of “trust-busting” by initiating suits against 43 other major corporations during the next seven years. (See primary source document: Controlling the Trusts.) Early in his term, he also sought the creation of an agency that would have the…
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…a huge railroad conglomerate, the Northern Securities Company. Roosevelt pursued this policy of “trust-busting” by initiating suits against 43 other major corporations during the next seven years. (See primary source document: Controlling the Trusts.) Early in his term, he also sought the creation of an agency that would have the…
Read More