The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-03-15

thought Of reputation. The people would
pay their taxes cheerfully and have the happi-
ness of seeing the debt reduced from year 10
wear. with the prospect " It's liquidation at
no distant day. Will Mr.. Johnson take up the
financial condition of the country with such
views as these 7 II he should, he may depend
upon the support of the people. II ne should
not, some one else will, and he VIII lose
splendid opportunity to immortalize bus name;
for the question ia pressing and its solution
inevitable.
Railroads and MISUNDERSTANDING oil Gov
ernment Control.
We recently called attention to the revclu-
ton that is about to be effected in our present
railroad and telegraph systems by the success
OF the pneumatic principle, as demonstrated
in London. When it is established that speed
Of from one hundred to one hundred and nifty
miles an hour can be obtained, with the most
perfect safety and at great reduction on the
present cost of railway travelling, 1t is easy to
see how 1t is going to disturb the interests
embarked in the existing system oflocomotion.
Competition will be entirely out OF the ques-
ton, and the present railroad corporations will
either have to abandon the field or unite their
interests with those of the pneumatic lines.
Although the telegraph companies may not be
affected to the same extent 1t Is evident that
they must suffer considerably from the oppo-
stion which the speed of transmission secured
by the new principle will create. No one will
pay an exorbitant price for an abbreviated
and incorrectly worded message or document
when he can have the original placed in his
hands almost as soon as telegram would
reach him.
But in considering the great changes that the
pneumatic system must bring about we must
not forget that the advantages which it offers
us may be very much curtailed by the efforts
of Spectators and monopolists, unless we take
care to guard against their interference. 1t
will not do to let the control of system
which is destined to revoluti0nize the
whole carrying traffic of the country pass into
the hands Of corporations amenable to no re-
sponsibility. Under our present railroad sys-
tenn the comfort, convenienc, and safety of
the public are matters of secondary con-
sidera.ion. No provision is made for COM
polling attention to the proper construction
and maintenance of lines, to the regularity of
travel or to the facilities OF transmission from
one road to the other. Built without system,
managed without economy and serving merely
to promote the Interests OF a few great capi-
talsts, 1t is no wonder that our railroads
should neither give satisfaction to the public
4Io 70 fb.,sv c{1 Hba1d
VIII IN, therefore, we undertake the reconstruc-
ton of the entire system, as the adoption Of
the pneumatic principle will compel us to do,
we must take care that thes. causes Of COM
plant shall be guarded against and that the
change shall be one permanently beneficial to
all concerned.
In France railroads are so managed that
there is but little chance for individual in
terests to interfere with those OF the public.
The supervision established by the govern
ment is extremely strict, and no detail escapes
its vigilant eye. In the first place, no new
line is allowed to be undertaken unless
il conforms to the general plan laid
down by it. This secures uniformity
and facility Of transfer as well as
economy in the arrangements Of the different
companies. Then the estimates for construc-
tion, the amount Of capital paid up and the
guarantees for the proper completion AMI
maintenance Of the road in good working order,
have all TO be submitted to and to be approved
ofby the Minister Of Public Works The re-
suit is that the French railroads are not only
the best managed, but the best paying in the
world.
II is system OF this kind which, without n
terfering too much with private enterprise,
would bring the whole Of the railroads and
telegraphs Of the country under the control OF
q government department, managed by capa-
BILE minister, that would best satisfy the views
and wishes OF our people. We should then
hear no more Of badly invested capital, Of
wastefal contracts, Of monopolies of sock or
OF wholesale railroad massacres. If these re-
suits were not reached il would be the fault of
the people at large for, the control Of the
whole system being in the hands of the govern
ment the administration would be responsible
10 them for its shortcomings. At the elections
questions of reform in connection with It would
become Of leading importance, and thus we
should arrive gradually at the most perfectly
managed and the most economical systems Of
locomotion and telcgraphing that science and
legislative wisdom can devise.
The French Legislature Is classed into three
bodies, namely, the fright" or government