The morning call., 1894-08-03
Government Ownership of Railroads.

Editor CdII-SIR: We are pleased 10 see the
press of San Francisco advocating the Govern
ment ownership Of at least one highway
across the Continent.
Henry Clay once said, THE great want OF
civilization is Market and you people in the
cities must aid us producers in having our
products marketed at the lowest possible rates.
The late tie-up has shown conclusvely that the
Interstate highways should be under Govern
ment ownership aud control. In no other way
is there any safely.
The workmen will organize to protect them
selves and families against the spirit of greed
which seems TO dominate monopoly, and conse.
quenty we may at any time be at the mercy OF
another tie-up.
You know that our chief market Is In the
East The people there, If under good finan-
cial conditions. will take all the fruit we can
send them. But the condition "alI the traffic
will bear" may leave them in about the same
state as 1t has left us, with scarcely enough to
purchase the necessaries of life. and with
nothing to buy our products. If the farmers
are prosperous every avenue of business will
feel its share of the general prosperity.
SO, to work. Call public meetings, circulate
petitions, ealing upon our legislators to intro
duce bill in Congress creating transporta-
tion department, as our Postoflice and other
departments, and then let US see To il that we
elect practical men TO the various offices.
And now, in connection with the Government
ownership of railroads and to show that it ts
not an uutried EXPERIMENT, we desire YOU TO
print the following paper read by Professor
Ely OF Johns Hopkins University, who had spent
the summer In Germany. He says: II was
yely much impressed during my stay In Ger
many this summer by the superior service Of
the state-coutrolled railways Of that country
as compared with tile careless management of
our own lines. There was scarcely an accident
In Prussia during the whole summer Tie
American railways have not enough employees
to secure safety and attention. England has
four times as many men and Germany even
more.
ave are fully thirty years behind Germany
in safety to passengers There are no un-
guarded crossings allowed to menace the
public. Even at the stations there Is
no crossing The tracks to reach outgoing
trains, as Is the case in our own union stations.
To get on the other side in Germany you must
descend flight OF steps and pass through
tunnel under the track. The stations them
selves are models of beautiful architecture.
The new one III Frankfort cost $4,000. 600.
When the Government intends 10 erect new
sta ion il offers a prize TO architects for orna-
mental designs. There Is a maximum OF COM
fort received In railway travel, as the stations
are all union stations, which Is possible since
the Government controls all the lines.
"Since my visit ten years ago many improve
ments in speed have been maze, fifty miles an
hour being The schedule time for many trains
The express from Berlin 10 Hamburg made
fifty mes an hour. all stops included.
Government ownership also opens the way
for the use of the railway for social purpose
uG BcHtTdI OplDlOu Is Iudb pOPhidtiou -
too much centralized in the large cities and
by the cheap zone or belt SYSTEM soon 10 be
opened in Berlin, workmen may live in the
suburbs and work in the city without much
expense.
"The Government management OF the rail-
way finances has also been brilliant success
surprising all expectations. In Prussia alone,
last year. after paving the interest and part of
the principal on lie bonded debt. there was
surplus of S25. 100000. The reduction In fares
distribution OF over $25, 100000. must also
say word for the high gu ity of he freight
service, which IS fully equal TO the express
traffic in many parts OF our country. trunk
can be sent all over Germany with perfect
safety and convenience for mere trifle. while
few cents extra Will insure it. and few cents
more guarantee It's delivery at certain hour"
FARMER.