The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1875-10-14
a STUIID EXPERIMENT.
TRYING TO Run an American Railroad on an
English Plan-Thc Error of the Great
Western Railway Company of Canada.


TORONTO, Oct. 12.-The leading papers of
Canada ard the Western states have lately been
commenting on the affairs Of the lilroad known
as the Great Western OF Canada, which, within
a few years, has had disastrous fall from the
position II formerly held. one Of the prominent
causes Of this decline seems to be the utter in
ability Of n board OF English directors. locate
three thousand miles away, to grasp the rcuuisi-
tions Of the Oh nging circumstances which affect
their Railroad from time TO time.
One would naturally supp sc that the policy
- the directors OF such G 'npHnv. having rs
onls available connections East and " est in the
United states would he "a cunciliatory aseimila-
ton. as far as possible. t. the modes Of mani
rgement If the more important roads beyond
I Its termri. THIS was the policy pursued for
some few wears, and a large expenditure Of
money was mace, In order to put the Great Vest
ern ROAD ~ the same condition as it, Amcric u
connections. The gauge Of tr ok reduced
from i've feet six inches 10 four feet eight and
Onc-half inches. ana additional provisions OF
size trucks and plants we're provided to- satisfy
the demands Of the large amount " American
through freight and passenger traffic. directed
over TINS foreign Railroad owned 10y an Eugl sh
corporation.
In consequence Of this large traffic and the
enlightened management Of the time the stock
ui tue c0mpany reached figure In the Engllsh
market which II had never before attained, the
SlO share rising to ten per cent. premium. To-
uaN the same stock stands at twenty five cents
on the dollar. This depreciation has taken place
IN about TWO wears. OF course the Great West
ern ROAD has suffered IN common Wi all pther
roads winch are links In through rOu es between
the East and West, nut the cause Of the full ex-
tent OF Its recent loss of traffic exists elsewhere
The local journals refer TO the new general
manager, Mr. f. Bruughton, u gentleman re-
Gently despatched from England To control the
Affairs OF the company. Ihi- parsonage by some
extraordinary chance has emerged from an OBJ
scutty IN the wilds of Wales. and from the
management Of railroad whose Traffic was
regular. and the exigeucies Of the public so uni
form, that IL is averred he did not change ais
freight tarin nor his Time c,rd for fifteen years J
Sdch position would bc calculled to make an
Ignorant man oombastic. and a vain man tyran-
me |.
These effects seem to have fallen on MIR. B
VINO, II the accounts given IN the local papers tie
true. Is tnCap BILE of understanding the impOr-
tauce OF a Conciatory policy toward the rail-
roads between winch the G. ". Is sandwlched,
but Is apparently bent on forcing his own Welsh
views into practice under circumstances utterly
different from those he 10 accustomed to.
lhe capital account OF the Great Western
Contrary Is some 100000, and 1t seems
strang Notwithstanding the many Instances of
tne iatuity OF the aver ge English stuckhOlder,
that manager Licking local experience aud
otuer essentials should be selected to control
the Great western road at time waen more
than at any other, In consequence OF the stress
OF competition ana continually decreasing rates
for freight, the ripest intelligence and expert
ence and judgment formed III the United STATES
would seem to be above oil Things necessary.
or course IA railroad 50 msmanaged can only
decline IA value To ITS owners aud the public,
and 1t will De Interesting Ia observe how long
the present error Will TO persisted IN.
Tue former general manager Of the Great
Western KdlrOad. Mr. W. h. Muir. vino more
than any other contributed to the great success
"a III Ailltos anu Nilo
| hnu many years exp ricnce ~ the man cement
| OF American Railroads, was removed from the
Great western rOau 10 make room Tor MIR.
BfouEhton. Mr. Muir Is at resent general man
ager Of the Canada Southern Railroad, "a line
running parallel with the Great Western, and its
natural competitor. The Canada southern Is tu
great extent owned by New York capitalists.
and Its Wee President and directors are New
YORK. men. The traffic of the Canauu southern
Is Increasing Largely. while tina Of the Great
western Is cores Ondingy decreasing.
Unuer the circumstances mentioned symp1-
| hk al ira Tar al Ia ftrF
would be misplaced. Ihey persist In their in
sui aud isOiated management C. the udvJnti gt
Of thcir rival. aud are vdnlv trying to perform
| can connections.