The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-11-09
Industrial and Commercial.
MINE, MILL AND RAILROAD.

NINE, MILL AND RAILROAD.
Discussing the much-mooted ques-
tion of government ownership or rail-
roads the Washington Post says:
Thousands of good citizens in every
part of the country hold to this theory,
and the number of it's adherents in
creases from year to year. The Post
respects the sincerity of these icono-
elastic reformers and cheerfully con-
cedes their right to propose and urge
any sort of change so long as they
limit their crusading to awful methods.
But we believe that they are altogether
in the wrong, and that were the federal
government to enter upon the plan OF
owning the railways it would sim
ultaneously enter the road to
ruin and would soon reach its
terminus. To purchase these roads
would require something like ten
or eleven billions of dollars. They have
cost $1050O, 900, 900. Some Of them are
worth more and some less than their
cost. The government would not under
take to confiscate this property, but If
it took it at all would do so at fair
appraisal. Is the country prepared, or
will it ever be prepared, to invest ten
billions or any billions in railroads?
To be sure, it could manufacture fiat
money, make it legal tender, and COM
pei railroad owners to accept the stuff
{,, %, gta lttt would
be more despicably mean than out-and-
out confiscation; for an issue of $lO,-
100000, 900 in fiat money would be WORTH
less.
"There are" adds the Post, 1880
railroads in the United States and
they employ 100000 men. These with
their families make about 100000, a
very large percentage of our total popu-
lation as compared with the number of
dependents on other industries. Last
year the total receipts of our railways
were about $1.25O, 100000 This income
resulted from the transportation of
594,000,0O0 passengers and 600
tons of freight The dividends were less
than 5000, 900, ,000 or less than per cent
on the ten and half billions invested.
1t is said that 65 per cent. of the rail-
roads have defaulted in the last ten
months. Compared with the business
of the railroads that of the federal
government is small affair in money
and in the number Of employees. Does
anybody believe that the federal busl-
ness is more economically managed
than the business of the railway cor
porations? Does not everybody know
that such is not the case? Has civil
service reform made such progress that
We can safely add 100000 to our 100 COZ
of civil employees? Would either of the
two great parties feel sure that presi.
Dental campaign would be fairly con.
Quoted if million men and billions OF
money We're under the control of the
other party? 1t seems to us that 6
glance at the railroad statistics ought
to convince any person who under
stands what our government is ant
what it was intended to be that fedora
ownership of the railroads would be E
wide and wild departure from sount
principles, departure fraught witt
the most alarming danger"
On Sunday, Nov. IS, the winter trair
schedules on the Pennsylvania ant
Reading systems will go into effect. Or
the former a number of importan
changes will be made in the service t.
the south. A full schedule o. trains
will be placed in service for the winte
travel to Florida and other southern
points. There will also be some import
ant changes in the service to and from
the south via the Atlantic Coast line
the Southern railway and ,ne Chesa
peake and Ohio. There will be NJ
change of any Importance in the west
ern trains, and but slight changes ar
contemplated in the local service. o.
the Reading much improved service be
tween Philadelphia and New York will
be inaugurated The principal featur
of this improvement will be much les
time between the two cities, which will
be accomplished by increased speed an
fewer stops. In the local service ther
will be only minor changes.
George Lowell, general superintend
ent of the Louisville, New Albany an
Chicago lines, tells the Indianapoli
Journal that the time is not far distan
when every locomotive will be equippe
with an electric headlight, but befor
this Is done the price must be lower an
some changes made in handling it. II
says 1t must be so constructed that tn
electric headlight will swing on pivo
and be controlled by a rod extendin
from the headlight back to the cab S
that the engineer, by little exertior
can throw the light in any desired d
rection; as his engine rounds a curry
he can turn the headlight to meet tina
curve, and as the engine approaches
sidetrack he can turn the headlight t
strike the switch, flooding II with ligt
and in an instant showing him If 1t
in its correct position for the train [
pass safely. Mr.. Lowell says ther
will be a saving which will pay for a
electric headlight on every locomotiy
road has, as there will be no necessit
for placing switch signal lights, whic
are not only an expense in having
man to look after them, but their co!
and that Of the oil they burn is muc
greater than would be supposed. Asit
from this, he thinks electric headlight
are a great preventive of accident
from head or rear collisions. Anoth,
point he makes is that, in case of an a.
cident, If the electric light can be hanC
led as desired, 1t can be used as a sign,
Of wreck or trouble of any kind, a
by flashing 1t upon the sky, it's refle
tions can be seen by actual experimei
ten miles.
MINOR INDUSTRIAL NOTES:
The Morris Ridge breaker is reportt
to be in a dangerous condition, Il