Railroads George Stephen, 1st Baron Mount Stephen

in 1877, cousin donald smith introduced him james hill, led establishment of george stephen & associates, 1 of profitable partnerships in history of north american railways. associates hill, smith, hill s business partner norman kittson, , john stewart kennedy, investment banker new york. later joined 2 more montrealers, r.b. angus , duncan mcintyre. hill commission swiss-born american portrait painter adolfo muller-ury paint portrait in london in 1898 - along of cousin strathcona - , until 2008 mount stephen s portrait hung in railroad offices of burlington northern santa fe railroad in new mexico, u.s.a.; in private collection @ estevan lodge in jardins de métis, canada.

in 1879, syndicate purchased struggling saint paul , pacific railroad $5.5 million. deal created sensation in montreal rumoured stephen had used position president of bank of montreal obtain loans @ limited rates. stephen treated scribblers of press contempt, continued plague him , complicated financial structures put together. stephen concerned effect on businesses , reputation. syndicate, however, turned st. paul railroad around. changed name, restored profitability , expanded lines winnipeg. in 1885, sold railroad $25 million, , such success of partnership (minus kittson retired business in 1881) had led them win contract government of canada build cpr.