The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-07-16
SEATTLE. MoxD<,. yUrr "a.
Is 1T A cugE9

ernmeus's present control Of the railways
by force Of arms and by receiverships Is TO
have the government own and control
them absolutely" This Is a mistake.
The government protects all property II
necessary By force, and yet it does not on
that account seek TO acquire owner
ship. The government belongs 10 the
people collectively. just as private prop
erty belongs 10 its owner. and any man can
call upon the governments for its power
and force II he can show he has need OF It.
When q mob organizes TO intimidase
railroad company aud to wreck It's prop
erty the government IL bound to protect
the railroad against the mob, just 70 II
would be bound to protect the striker Il
the railroad should enter his house and
spoil his goods.
In Austria and Russia the concessions
10 railways are given for ninety years,
after which they will lapse 10 the govern
for ninety years and in France for ninety
nine years, with a reservation Of power on
the part OF the state to acquire them ct
any time on payment for the unexpired
remnant Of the term. In Switzerland.
Spain and Portugal the lines Of tho pres
ent companies lapse to the government in
ninety-nine years. In Prussia, out Of
f4.oo0 miles Of railway. the government
owns ali but /. 100 miles.
The purchase Of the railways cost Prus-
Ella about Sc. 100. 90, 0oO. and the govern
ment made profit Of I per cent. on the
purchase. The Prussian government
fixes its rates on the principle of cost of
seryi ice. addinga profit for the benefit of
the state. A rate once fixed Is tolerably
permanent. Railways cannot refuse TO
carry goods rendered them for convey
anee. except dangerous combustibIes. In
no oase Is foreign produce carried between
the same points at lower rates than are
German commodities. Neither are rates
reduced in order to compete with coasting
steamers. though % this latter rule there
are some exceptions. The returns OF the
passenger traffic on the Prussian state
lines show steady increase. The num-
Der carried was ioe, ooo 600 IN lss5-s6. and
2ss.ooo.0oo in iss99o Receipts have in
creased during the period mentioned. not
withstanding the addition of number OF
non-remaneratiyo secondary lines.
For the ten years ending isS0-lS9i the
increase in mileage during that period was
In England 10 per cent. in France 50 per
cent aud in Prussia p per cent. The in
crease in receipts was In England - per
cent. in France per cent and ia Prussia
al per cent There was slight decrease
OF net revenue from the French railways
in the ten years named, whereas in En-
gland there was an increase OF Is per cent.
Rnd in Prussia of 3 per cent ia net
revenue.
In Belgium, where the state owns all the
railways bat one. the government began
the plan Of reducing rates in ls18, aud the
effect in eight years Was to increase the
tonnage carried by les per cent, and
the receipts by a. per cent From $50 to
iSS3 The gross receipts were increased les
per cent The Belgian governments has
not tried 80 make large profit for The
state, bat rather TO develop eommerce and
industry by cheap transit 4 cirenm.
stance contributing to low rates is the
ownership OF water navigation By the state.
None OF the Belgian canals Is owned by
arsiiwAy. We may mention further that
the Belgian government pays nothing 10.
che conveyance OF its mai, whereas ths
English resgofice has % disbarse nearly
sao0oooo for The purpose. besides s., soo..
co Tor parcels.
In Switzerland the railways hase q
heavy debs q I7a.c0ooo % cellars and
viii lapse 60 the government in fagg. TAers
seems 10 BE little doubt that st no distant
period the swiss VII natioaaiiss their
railways
la France the main lines are owned hv
ak large and two small companies, and
they are not allowsi 30 invade each oh.
era territory. Two a. shem ewn about
sooo miles OF read. Fer supervising thesn
the Preach government has . hiEh y
trained staff o, engineers and about -
officials. costing yS0.0o per snnum. II
exercises strict centrel over tie details
q management: Il has i,s agents a. prln.
elpai stations. gAs time tables and tariff.
aee saeieet 70 Is approval. aad me &C.
counts 81 she companies 20 annual exams
nation. II Is zesth noting that sabstsn.
tiai reduction IN passenger fares came inte
eperaiioa on Apra / tSs2 This was
equivalent - a reduction On sac thirl
class a. - per cenI. AMI brought thsss
fsrcs 20 latte over ! eeat a mile A. ths
same sims red actions q y % 81 per seat.
snd "a some eases 81 81 per cent, we're
made IN TIE rates on sosds sent e. er.
psess The English hnes ssized the OF.
poFtantty 80 increase 1hslg faees consider.
ably, so shss ssiSy ths travs1sr besaeen
ihe KnElsh aa8 FreacA oapsss.s pAv,
more thaa fNlee as muea PER rnlse hs.xsea
Lender esa psver as be ae<s beswexn
Calais saa Pass
Aassraa. AuagafF nFrtahgy hent be,
ssa sa.l~4yss sasa Esd Hasa - pFsT.ls