Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1892-10-15

sibility for tho conduct Of transports
ton, both by water and by rail-s re-
sponsibility which had been attended
with unceasing contention and trouble.
The state Of Georgia embarked m tho
work of state ownership and manage
ment under exceptionally favorable cir
cumstances. The Western & Atlantic,
or State road, built by the state, was
opened for traffic In the year 1850. It
connected the railroads Of the central
and western sections of the country with
those of the South Atlantic states. Al
though this attempt was made in pro-
gressive state, well administered, the
practical results of the experiment clear
" illustrated the folly Of attempting to
operate a railroad through the instru-
mentalities of state government. The
economies of management we're subordi-
mated to political exigencies, and bad
management frittered away exceptional
opportunities for success, afterwards
realized under private corporate control
The experiment completely illustrated
the folly of attempting to make the
wo-k of transportation a public func-
ton. In 1870 the Western & Atlantic
railroad was leased to corporation for
twenty years at a rental of $4,000 a
month. and it is now in the hands OF re-
ceivers.
sIn letter dated June 18, 1891, the
Honorable Joseph E. Brown, e1-gov-
ernor of Georgia and e1-United States
senator, gives me the following testi-
mony against governmental control of
railroads:
"sI cannot think that there is any
serious danger that our government
would be guilty of the folly of at
tempting to purchase all the railroads
of this country and put them urder
governmental control. Your published
article alone gives sufficient reasons why
such system would be impracticable
and intolerable.'"
"Years ago several other states of the
Union made large loans and grants of
lands, or became large stockholders in
railroads from correct views as to their
enormous powers for developing the
natural resources of the country; but
such states prudently refrained from
any attempt at state management of
railroads. The state of Virginia, for
example, was at one time subscriber to
two-f fths OF the stock of certain rail-
roads and canals, but was never tempted
into the experiment of state railroad
management. The state of Missouri be-
came the owner of several railroads
upon the default Of their obligation to
the state; but the experiences of other
states deferred the people of Missouri
from the experiment of state manage
ment; and accordingly such roads were
sold in 1868 to private corporations.
1.-THE general tendency of all the
states during the last thirty years has
been to withdraw from financial associa-
ton with railroad construction.
'In my previous article I omitted to
state the experience of South Africa in
ownership and management.
Such attempts have degenerated into q
for local appropriations for
new lines, much after the manner of
making up a river and harbor bill' in
congress. The construction of govern
ment lines by Canada, in connection
with its non-paying inter-colonial rail-
way system, has besides given to the
farce of the railroad in politics it's
broadcast and most fragrant expressions.
"Five states, viz, New York, Penn
sylvania, Ohio. Indiana and Illinois,
have attempted the experiment Of state
ownership and control Of canals, COM
simple matter, as the work
Of the state has in each case been con-
fined to the maintenance of such works,
and has not touched the subject of
charges, and yet the evils
incident to political association with
such works has been disturbing ele-
ment, overshadowed, however, in certain
instances, by the great commercial ad-
vantages which such public works have
as, for example, the Erie canal
of the state of New York.
1.-The United States government owns
and operates several short canals. One
of these is at the Falls of the Ohio, near
Louisville, and another is at the Falls
of the Sault Ste. Marie, which connects
on Lake Huron with naviga-
ton on Lake Michigan, and another at
the Des Moines Rapids on the Missouri
river. These and other works of Sim
liar nature are operated free of toll, and
their management involves very little
more than the opening and closing of
the gates of the dry-docks in our navy
yards.
II win briefly recapitulate the facts
which have been presented in these two
articles upon the subject OF govern
mental ownership and management Of
railroads:
"First- value of goods trans
ported every year upon the railroads OF
the country is three or four times the
value Of the entire railroad system OF
the United States, and amounts to about
thirty times the annual receipts OF tho
railroad oomnaniee from freight and