Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1894-06-01

eminent. which they have not repaid,
though they have made their chief
promoters wealthy. II the government
were to insist on payment II could not
got the cash but would have to take
the roads. This the companies are
willing to have done, ~ the railway
officials have through routes aud could
get along without the original lines.
which II ia claimed really are burden
on their hands.
Judge Gray's proposition lie that the
government take these roads, and keep
the tracks 10 good repair, just
A. public waterways are kept. He
argues that II the government can
keep rivers and canals la Satisfactory
condition as public highways II also
can afford 10 keep a transcontiuontnl
railway In the same fashion. While
the waterways are made free to canal,
steam and other boats, he would not
have the government 20 40 far as that
with the railway, but would have q
reasonable toll charged Tor the use Of
the track, TO keep It In repair lie
would not have tho government 20
into the business Of operating
a railway, as Ia proposed by
many who are urging q revision
Of Incorporation methods, but would
have II maintain the line simply a.
public highway. Transportation com.
panlcs could have their own loco.
motives anu cars, and upon payment Of
toll could do their hauling over the
roads under government regulations
IL a man wanted to run his own train,
or charter locomotives aud cara, he
could do 80, just as steamboats, are run
by owners or lussoes on tho Mississippi.
His expense outside Of tue cost Of the
cars would DO merely reason.
able toll for going over the
public highway. The idea would
be simply to provide n way where the
owner Of train could run II, as n canal
Il a place whore tho owner OF a boat
can run It; a. man can charter q beat
to haul his cargo, or can ship II at an
agreed rate, 40 similar enterprise
would provide traius for railroad
freight.
Whether such a sohoms could be
practically operated and whether II
would prove more satisfactory than
present methods are questions that
eau DO determined only by actual
experiment. II has been found
practical for railroads to lease a
hight Of way 10 trains belonging 20
other companies, and In view Of these
operations the door Is not efreclually
barred against the government owning
the roadDed and liking the rates and
rules for running trains thereon. II
would not require such an army OF
employees as TO make them generally
elective In controlling elections. AZ
TO the public highway scheme being
satisfactory, II may be suggested that
there was a time when private enter.
prise collected tolls on roads, canals
aud bridges used by the public, but the
gradual tendency has been 10 cllmin.
ate this syslem OF private tribute
In favor OF governms control
and support and tho movement has
gained In favor. The public highway
suggestion for the Pacific railroad may
not be n key to part OF tho situation,
but In view OF strong demands which
are being made for governmental con.
troll Of railways II might be preferable
TO make a partial trial In the line ptc.
posed rather than insist on the nation
launching wholesale into a new anu
unlriei system for this country. Ger.
tainly the industrial and commercial
world would not only patiently
await practical tests In this
direction, but would hail with
delight the taking Of actual
steps to remove from present Issues the
possibility o. unsttlllng tho business
world by iiuoiuating rates such ~ have
affected and disturbed commercial cen.
tors and have hAfshly vibrAted
throughout the whole buaiuess fabric Of
the West.
An OPINION GIVES.