New-York tribune., 1874-05-21
EUROPEAN AND AMERICAN RAILROADS.

by GdrdI1T o. HN1Odrd O BOSTON,
After some preliminary remarks on the
fruits OF railroad Development Mr. Hubbard said; Our
fathers feared that country would be broken to
pieces through the vast exent OF its territory and the
diverse interests OF its different sections. But 5000
miles of railway tracks bind together these different
sections by ties stronger than on bringing them into
social and business relations, and making tho very
dvergency interests the bond OF closer union Teas
from China and Japan the Rocky Mountains to tho
Valley OF the Mississippi while fruits from Cal0rnla
are daily delivered IN the markets OF the East.
Year by year the mileage of the railroads Increases In
an almost geometrca ratio. New roads are construct
ed, ana the country becomes more dependent upon
them. But while our railroads built by private enter
prise and with private capital and controlled Dy pr
vate corporations, have developed country much
pdly and efficiently than could have been done
hy Government they have gradually, by extensions,
consultations. and combination, acquired such enor-
power that they. who should be the servants OF
only other country which has relied solely on
roads The system being the same. the results
have followed As the railway system was moie rapidly
extended there it more quickly evils Incl
to it, 1t became evident that was the policy
OF the great companies to amagamate rival ana CON
Meeting lines aud 10 partition the whole OF England INTO
yeo six districts each controlled by single railroad
corporation and thus TO monopoze the entire business
OF the country THIS aroused the attention oil the people
and OF Parliament. aud measures were at once
taken to prevent it, Time Will show how far
Nearly 5000 laws have been enacted by the
Parliament OF Great Britain relating to railroads many
OF them seeking to control these corporations and regu
late their charges, but thus far with little success Be
Introduction -
and failing check upon exorbant rates and
insufficient facilities. Ii was within the means OF a few
individuals in almost every place to establish an oPpos
ton line of stage coaches aud the benefits from the re-
ductiOn OF rates and increased accommodation shared
by them equally with the public were generally an ample
sruction OF an opposition line OK railroad so large
apeat 1ne risk Of osns Sas the wh0s
aud many the private interests involved that com
the fear Of loss through competition and the temptation
to monopoze the whole business high rates by COM
bnation with the rival line soon becomes irresistible and
the the public is increased charges to cover the
expense Of two roads aud pay the interest on doubled
capital.
DIFFICULTIES AND ADVANTAGES AT HOME.
Our form OF government presents greater difficulties
In dealing with this subject than that Of Great Britain
but on the other hand the physical eatures!o. .our
try give us peculiar advantages In the United States
every railroad must be incorporated by the laws OF
State, and that State cannot authorize railroad
beyond its limits. IL Is only by combinations
with roads in other States that long lines can
be formed These through lines, In regard
business between places in the same State local
roads, subject TO the State laws between two or three
States they National, and only Congress regu
late commerce among the several states The National
aud Governments separate sovereigntes. The
State Governments have been shorn OF part OF their
control Of these corporations by the decision OF the
granting charter private corporation surrenders
so much OF Its sovereignty as Is not reserved
in the contract The railroad acquires property n its
franchise. The Fifth Amendment prohibits the taking
OF private property for public without just compen
sation Every reduction In rates made by State au-
thority which reduces the net profits Is taking OF pri
property for which compensation be required,
neh % be SGad s Sy G nnn and Of dy the
public injury would be so serious as to demand that the
@ and os giant Which nes Ss @
public interest can bind. Unless the rates OF transpor
sls Ths Of hS IN @
ET ss, large qaa15y = ei for saRSrt,0n The
The portion that the country receives from
the United states is decreasing through
Ss pSSS ~sn her in %
glons The advantages OF the United states in this
trade through ra lands d aTse i to the
which counterbaance the cheaper labor Of the East.
the region OF the Black Sea- ought to give Il the
control Of the English MARKET but Is lost through
greater distance and the cost OF transportation.
business OF the railroads The contractors managers
construction OF the roads in fictitious dividends or In
specializing In the stock and only indirectly through
cost, requiring higher charges TO pay dividends than
would otherwise be necessary. The people OF
sacrificed to private gain, and have organized
INTO oranges, which have already made their
freight charges have been extortionate Many of tine
Western roads do not even pay the interest on their
fore export grain enough 10 control the English
market. but We can hardly expect these roads
flee their own Interests to the public good The ques-
tion remains. how can We get our grain TO markett
Tue railroads when trst built were built In short sec
tons, with no idea that they would become part of
great national line. The present roads, though adding
constantly to their equipment. hardly able keep
pace with the increase OF business. Nearly eght-tenths
OF all the business all the great trunk roads local
the through business is therefore OF comparatively
small Importance. These trunk roads are from
$50 to 200 miles louger than airline route
between the East and West. new line could be
strueted with reduced grades. from 100 to 100 miles
shorter than the existing lines II appears this
that freight railroad eau be constructed which would
greatly reduce the expense OF moving produce. III
freight railroads are built by the present companies or
by new corporations chartered aud managed all
roads have been combinations will DO formed. by
which the benefits Of these reductions Will enure pr
marlly 10 tho corporation and not TO tho public
INRFFICIENCY OF THE PRESENT sYsrEM-Irs RIM
EDIE3.
All considerations OF tho subject agree 10 the nei