Litchfield enquirer., 1872-09-12

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 From the N Y Evening Post
 'A REFoRM IN RAiLSshY MAoAcE. FF1sbzod ssta aso3aa AaENT !gIsliiA sag eat 0a4s'l possible cheaafpe rran.sst.. 'dI aNTa are told in, the last report ef, the Bu. rean of grculture that a large proportion el 1 the fibre grown lin the West is thrown zto the manure heap, and the scenssls report instances as. @tn0torious facts that gsswhen corn is selling for 90 cents in New Eng land, it is burned for fuel in Iowa; when wheat is selling for g. B in, New York, it Is only worth 45 cents in Minnesota; and when beef brings S7-00 hundred on the hoOf in the East, cattle are slaughtered | for their hides in Texas" Muftitrdes of sIIch facts might be cited, but tifey only show what common sense sufficiently in- ] dicates, that unless the interior states of the West can obtain an outlet for their produce, their property is valueless and labor thrown away, save in so far as they suffice for subsistence. These states con tain some of the finest land and the most promising districts in the country, but their wealth of resources and excellence must remain latent qualities until they l are furnished with cheap transit to good markets. Locally and nationally, there fore, the question of cheap transit is one of prime importance Of the solutions suggested, one seems to- deserve special attention for the many indirect advantages 1t also promises to confer; and the follow ing particulars in reference to railways, obtained from official and other trust worthy sources not generally accessible, may help to promote the formation of in telligent opinion on the subject: .-' i ti3'- PLAN PROPOSED. H# b't1s5 The solution referred to is that which proposes that the railways, like the post office, should be managed as a national institution, and on the same plan which in post0fice economy has been found to be so eminently successful and satisfac- tory. At present, in Britain more than here, the railways are practically tcarriers of parcels under two pounds weight at 9 single rate for all distances, and 1t IS pro posed tfIat, commencing on their own ac- count where they leave off on government account, the railways should carry parcels up to one thousand pounds, and also the freight, tonnage and passengers on the same plan as adopted by the postofice. There is no magic i'll two pounds, and, it is urged, there is no good ground for sup posing the plan would not be as success fnl and satisfactory applied to weights above two pounds as It is proved to be applied to weights under that amount.
 RAILWAY FREIGHTs AND FARES IN DEFER
 ENT COUNTRIES. '1 15
 In round numbers our railways extend to 60,O00 miles, have cost 5000 millions of dollars, and earn 450 millions annually, or S7.5OO per mile. Of this sum, two thirds accrue from freight, at different rates for six classes of goods, ranging from l to 5 cents per ton per mile, and averaging two dollars ton for, all dis tances. The other third Is raised from passenger fares and other sources, the passengers paying, on an average, cents per mile, and the whole receipts amount ing to 70 cents per passenger. So that one with another each passenger travels 3 miles. t3a RuSGy btJ fs1F5 ba3s. sF J eis e Britain has only 15, 600 miles of railway, but each of these cost as much as four of ours. The earnings are 250 millions, or $16, 900 per mile. These earnings are made by first, second and third-class pas senger rates, the third class rate being restricted'by law to one penny per mile, and the receipts for each class averaging respectively 65, 37 and 20 cents per pas senger, equivalent to 31 cents for each of all the passengers carried. This is less than half our charge. The freight charge is also less than half ours, being only 80 cents per ton on an ayerage,i against our charge of $1 to $1:50. ses...-
 Prussia has 6,747 miles of railway, at an expenditure of 575 millions and earn ing S1 millions annually, or $l2, 900 per miles. The fares average B cents for each passenger, and the freight $1 per ton.
 Wurtemburg has 666 miles, at an ex- penditure of 61 millions, and earning 7,800 per mile by an average rate of "A cents for each passenger, and $1.90 for each ton of freight.
 Russia has 5, 136 miles of railway, at a cost of 500 millions, earning $14.S per mile. On an average each passenger trav- els. 93 miles for $1.50, and each ton of goods is carried 197 miles for s.
 Belgium has 536 miles of state railways at cost of 50, millions, earning 8s mil lions annually or $15, ,780 per mile. The fares average 3 cents per passenger and the freight g cents per ton. It has also 1,2A miles of private railways, but of these the official statement gives no par ticulars. In everything the state railways compare favorably with those of other countries, in the hands of companies. In Prussia half the railways are in the hands of government, but there the infringement has nothing to boast of. whether as com pared with the adjoining lines or with railways elsewhere. es~ = ,.... ...s;.~. .,..-.
 The following tabulation in reference to countries and to Some of our own states, shows at glance what comparatively low rate of fare and freight for all dis tance, like the postage rate, would suffice to raise revenue equal to that accruing from the present mileage rates: soaass,.. ,.sstas- ONE RATE FOR ALL DISTANCES. .y r.