The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-08-04
RAILROAD ZONE SYSTEM.
one-Half tho Mileage Of the World
Found in tho United
States.
Mechanically They Are Also tho
Very Best That Gan Be
Found.
Not Much Apprehension II Felt From the
Consolidation Of Lines Into
Great Systemx.

~ ntu
Great Systems.
The United States ID distinctively tho
country Of railroads. Its lines, In fact,
comprise over one-half the total railroad
mileage Of the world, says Once q Week.
According to the latest computation on tho
subject the railways Of the entire globe
measure Ave hundred md seventy thou
sand kilometers. or about thee hundred
and fifty thousand miles. Tho United
States contributes to this total no less than
two hundred and fifty thousand kilometers,
or one hundred and seventy-five thousand
miles. This enormous development of rail-
xoad transportation and facilities in our
country is equally distinguished by the
practical inventions and improvements
which have accompanied 1t. The inventive
genius of the American people has found a
suitable field in this direction, and it is no
vain boast that mechanically the rail; Dads
of the United Statos nre tho best in the
world. It is true that differences in tho
density Of population between the United
States and the countries of Europe tho longer
distances to bs traversed by our trains. and
other circumstances, create a dissimilarity
in the problem to be met. This American
engineer and inventor, as we'll as the prac-
tical railroad operator, have accordingly
solved them in an appropriate manner
Consequently, though Europe has borrowed
many appliances and methods from Amsri-
can railroads, it Is seldom that the old
world furnishes us with innovations in SON
nection with our transportation systems.
This applies moro particularly in the
matter of mechanical development. It
must DO admitted that, especially in the
last few years, European examples have
had more or less influence upon our rail-
road legislation and our methods of man
agement. A number OF measures. includ-
ing the interstate law and the
appointment of state railroad commission
ers. involving direct regulation Of the rail
roads by the authorities, are founded on
European models. These measures
have already profoundly affected rail-
road methods and management through
out the United States, and promise to
result is even more serious changes. 1t is
noticeable that the work of consolidating
the multitude of corporations which make
up our railroad system has been greatly ac-
celebrated. In fact it is tbs general belief
Qf,those intim atsly oonservant with the
subject that the time il not far distant
when a few large concerns will absorb the
bulk Of the railaoad lines and virtually di-
vide the transportation business of the
country among them. At the same time
the prospect fails to excite any real appre-
hension. Subject as the railroads now are
to regulation and supervision, the %consoli-
dalton of separate lines osnnot fail to in
duoe Increased economy in operation. and
thereby facilitate tho tendency toward the
lowering of charges ana fares, which is the
desideratum for the general public.
One of the most striking differences be-
tween the railroads of the United States
and those of Europe is found in the relative
rates charged for passenger travel n the
facilities afforded. It can be stated as 4
general proposition that the freight rates
on our railroad lines arc much lower than
the average rates in any country of Europe.
On tho other hand, passenger fares in the
United States are higher in proportion than
tho Eurorean scale. 1t is true that, except
an Great Britain, the speed of the average
passenger train is much below that Of even
the way trains on our principal lines. And
throughout Europe the railroads practice a
classes which would not find acceptance by
the American people. Ihird-class fares tor
instance, in France and Germany ars Won
derfully ow. But the accommodations,
little superior to those of an ordi-
nary box-car provided with wooden
8Uhu8V Woulo 0ASlU0 Vko bOOLA VI any pOI-
tion of cur travelling public. 1t is. indeed,
the third-class rates of fare which reduce
the averages of European railroad ia. es.
Considering this fact. as we'll as the speed
at which the average American passenger
train is run, the difference in price 10 ap-
parently compensated for.
The attention of the public and of rail-
road men alike has of late been directed to
4 development in regard to railroad passen-
ger fares in Europe. This is the so-oalled
Hungarian Zone system of fares. 1t ia a
new idea which, put into force on the rail- |
road lines of Hungary 80 a short time ago as
in 1889, has already been adopted in Aus
tria and Belgium, and is under considsra-
ton and experiment in other European
countries. 1t consists, in brief, in a dlvi-
sion Of all the railroads. of Hungary. radi-
nting from Buda-Pesth, the capital. as a
center, into sections called zones. These
zones, which are about five miles in
length at filst, gradually inc ease until
they are twenty to,twenty- five miles long on
the extreme borders of the country. Pas
zone to other points are made, not by the
actual distances, but by the number of
zones to be traversed, each fraction Of a
kone being charged for AZ a full one. The
G1stem in effect produces a constantly dim
wishing rate per mile in proportion to the
gary is recorded as being of the most salts
factory character. Tho decrease in the
average OF passenger charges was 40 per
cent, but the total revenues of the railroads
from passenger traffic increased II per cent
and the number of passengers carried was
more than doubled. ~
Various propositions have been made to
introduce the zone system OF American
railroads.. To test it., however, would re-
quire the voluntary action of tho railroad
corporations. and as vet no definite steps
lave been taken in this direction. At the
same time the public, particularly at the
west. regard the system with moro or less
favor. and efforts are on foot to force the
zone system on the attention Of railroad
managers. 1t is urged that the division OF
the railroads radisting from local csnters
like Chicago. Kansas City, st. Paul and
other points into zones on tho Hungarian
plan, and the regulation Of .ares on that
basis, would result in a substantial increase
of travel. to the advantage of both the rail
roads and the public.
HIS LARIAT SAVED HER.