, 1872-11-22

Not less than El0Q, ,000, QUO, it 1s SAD nave
been wasted by the Lack OF q Weldlgeateq
scheme Of railway supervision By semitic and
practical men, under Government conrol. Par-
lament allowed speculators to Cary Ines every
where. Enormous SUMS we're Sasaad on clI-
cuitous lines. which we're Afterwards suspended,
and on double routes subsegnmty "a 1a;5,a
operations to attempt some mems Of controlling
them to the public good .....-.-,
In 1870 the Board Of Ttadewas given regu1a-
tive power over the railroa@ and, in 1874,
Select Committee was appoated by the House
of Comnons to consider The lest means OF adapt
ing the growing railway estem to the e1lgen~
cies OF the country. Aaong other serious
difficulties we're the auctions Of competing
lines and the treat1ent OF third-class
nasseugers, :: In the en-, it Was enacted that
1t leass one train q da should run on every
line, at the charge Of q emmy mile; that the
mails soldiers. and polis should be carried at
certain charges; that elctrlc telegraph commu-
nication should be established; that the Lords
Of the Treasury might educe the fares after q
iange Of twentv-one yess, if the profits Of any
railway exceeded 10 pr cent and that all the
f1ture lines might be rrchased by the Govern
n1ent after the e1pirattn OF alulliar per1od Of
Iwgnty-one years fror the date OF the passing
- 41,a act. at the ratef twenty-five years. pur-
- .base .e IN m an aYerag Of three years profits.
Sno1, With 1,umerougegulations OF detail, we're
he rroyisions Of the3ailway act Of 1874. The
poard of Trade wascharged with the onerous
iuty of overlooking be railway system, both as
~ LAW and practia; examining all freah
,chemeg: selectingfrom among rival plans;
Watching over the tfetE and interests OF the
public 4o: ..4 xo;,x,
law Is in England ny be judged from the fact
That the special 1eg5ation for Railway Compa-
MES j. comprised Inpwards Of 300 acte, from
ieas to the present time, and in 1900 more
enending themI Among the many subjects
provided for in thea acts are the following: The
time within which he railway must be made;
notices required bythe Board Of Trade before
opening; obligations as to carrying mails and
tie conveyance et trooPs; regulations as to
gates at level crossings, signals, aud functions;
penalties for Obstruction and trespass; linlita-
lions of gradients md curves; maintenance Of
fences; making Of sidingA; one cheap train
each way daily; re:urns as to accidents; rules
for registering mountaineering shares; borrow
ing powers meetings and votes; payment Of
poor-rates and assessments; leasing of lines;
hmalgamations; authority to buy, hire, and use
steam vessels; communications between passen-
gers and guards, etc"
The whole subject or railway Legislation WIS
brought up before Parliament at its last session,
on account Of the proposed amalgamation Of
Two Of the largest English lines. 4 Parliament
tarv Committee was sppointed to review the
whole subject, and their conclusion will be of
xnecial interest to Americans who now find
cccasion for grave reflection in the relations of
railways to the public: '' Foremost among the
summary of conclusions recently issued BY the
Couamittee, sre tbs following: 'Q) Past