The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-10-11 00:00:00

SHOULD RAILWAYS BE NATIONAL

PROPERTY P

At the Social Science Congress, Mr. E. J. Wather-
ston (London) read a paper entitled, "Our Railways;
should they. be Private or National Property ?" It
was an elaborate review of the history and position of
railways, elucidated by statistics, and argued that they
ought to be national and not private property. It
maintained that high charges prevent development of
traffic. Out of a population of 32,882,000, a total of
665 million travellers a year is not large, being but 17
times the population. The average is greatly exceeded
on some lines having by no means a monopoly of com-
munication, and their experience and excursions show
that carrying capacity, money-earning capacity, is
practically unlimited. Expensive fast trains, half-
filled, suggest the assumption that railways are for the
"upper ten ;" but do they pay? Experience identifies
profits with third class. High and unequal rates re-
strict the carriage of goods to 3,870 tons per mile in
England, 2,310 in Scotland, and 1,220 in Ireland. A
reduced and even tariff would do for goods and parcels
what the penny post had done for letters. The Times
had joist pointed out that railway rates cripple our
agriculture in competition with America. They re-
strict the internal distribution of meat, fish, and other
necessaries, and diminish the mutual prosperity of
town and country. On the Continent railways are
fast becoming national property. If ours were so, a
general lowering of rates and fares would be possible.
They might be organized after the model of the
Post-office, with a uniform charge for small parcels
and for passengers within certain zones or distances.
The fares might be—under five miles, 3d. and 2J.;
under 50, is. and Bd. ; under 500, ss. and 45.; above,
Os. and 55., with intermediate figures. Some such
uniformity would give a great impetus to travelling.
Millions would travel who did not, and it would pay
to carry them. A ton of coal is carried for id. a mile.
Tons of human beings load and unload themselves.
A train of from 250 to 350 tons, at 25 to 35 miles an
hour, costs 6d. a mile-3d. for coal and 3d. for wages.
Improved management would diminish the risk
of accident. Every station might be a post-office,
and every train have a postal carriage. Lower-
ing of rates and fares would equalize the value
of land in town and country, diminish the price of
food in towns, and raise the value of land in the country.
Financially the purchase of the railways would be but
a repetition of the purchase of the telegraphs, but on a
Larger scale. With saving and lower charges would
come improved service. Instead of 1,000 directors
and scores of managers, with allowances equal
to those of Cabinet Ministers, there ought to be a
central government, with the service arranged to meet
the utmost public convenience. There need be few
trains running at more than 30 miles an hour. Goods
trains might often run on separate lines. Goods in
small quantities should be treated as letters are by
the Post Office. The end kept in view should he to
assimilate on the same principle the transport of
letters, of telegraphic messages, of persons, and of
merchandise. A system of national railways would,
more than anything else, bind our population into one
comps t mass, would reduce a thousand irregularities
in prices, even of land, and develops prosperity and
well-being among our 34 millions, of people.