Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1894-11-10
RAILWAY OWNERS.
The Interstate Commissions
Report to the Senate.
NOT FOR GOVERNMENT CONTROL.

The Relations of Governments to the Rail-
roads Of the World = Freight Rates in
This Country are the Lowest in the
world-Local Gle .uIngs.
A report prepared for the United
States senate by the interstate com.
merce commission has been printed
for circulation. 1t deals exclusively
with the question OF government
ownership of roads, and is perhaps
the most complete statement Ct the
extent to which such ownership OBJ
tains that has been made. The re-
port is divided into four parts. 1t
first takes up the relations of govern
ments to the railroads of the world.
In the second division a tabuiated
statement is given of the data COL
lected on the subject. The third
makes comparison of freight and
passenger rates on government
owned railroads and roads within the
United States. Views of different
writers on the subject form the
fourth and closing division of the
report. From the facts set forth in
the first division, it appears that
there are only two governments who
own and operate all the railroads
within their Jurisdictions. These
represent Egypt and Nicaragua.
Eighteen countries own and operate
some of the railways. Coming down
to the comparison of freight and pas
senger rates, Information is fur
nished which does not 60 to sustain
the arguments of the populists and
advocates OF the government owner
ship of railroads. Freight rates in
the United States are in general
terms only tive-eighths of those
charged on the continent of Europe
and little less than one-half of
those which prevail in Great Britain.
Tran. portation charges in Russia are
40 per cent higher than in America.
and operating expenses there are IS
per crnt of the gross receipts.
Freight charges on the Australia ian
roads are considerably greater than
in this country. Summing up the
whole matter. freight rates in this
country are the lowest in the world.
General Notes.
Brakeman Wrenn. of the c.. B. &
O.. is back at his post again, after a
months lay off.
, Travelling Passenger Agent NJ. S
Giles, of the Lake Shore, was in Rock
Island this week.
The 912. Dan Moriarity's engine,
: of the c.. Il. |. & p, went into the
: Davenport shops.
W. G. Besler, division superintend-
: ent of the c.. b. Il O.. was q Rock
: Island visitor Friday.
George Whippie's engine. the 95S,
on the Rock Island, is receiving re.
pairs in the Chicago shops.
Fireman Dan Volmer. of the Rock
Island. is back at work again, after
being laid up week with sickness
j. o. Thorn, superintendent OF
- bridges and buildings for this divi
sion of the o." was in the city Fri.
, day.
D The 9S4, of the c.. X. /. & r., i:
: out of the Chicago repair shops, and
, Engineer John Dickerman is again al
= his post.
Engineer Harry Zimmerman. Of
the 90 ;" is taking weeks vaca
ton, and Engineer Ed Dempsey i:
mastering the Ga.
Freight Conductor Meyers. of the
&C., NJ. Il St. p, has returned Il
: work. He had been laying off on ac
count of the sickness Of his wife.
! The c.. Il. d q. has finished lower
ing its main and passing tracks Il
> grade in Moline. The side and pri
: waite tracks have vet to be lowered.
, Conductor +. Il. Crawford is rapid
V ly recovering from his attack of ty
e phoid fever. He is expected back Il
t his post in the c., Il. Il q. in few
e days.
t Conductor Bob Frazer and Travel
o ing Engineer A. +. James, of Boards
: town. who constitute the board O
: examiners for this division of the G..
r Il. & O., have been in the city al
e week examining the train and engin,
: men.
o Vice President S b. Harris ant
General superintendent Besler. o
! the c., Il. SO. arrived in Rock Isl
c and Wednesday night i'm a special ca
S from Chicago. They remained il
t the city over night and left Thursda,
4 ,pprnipn for InuiS .