The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1894-09-20
RAILROAD OWNERSHIP .
statistics Compiled by the In
nfstate Commerce Commission
by Direction Of Congress.
AN INTERPRETING REPORT,
In Which the Results OF Government
and Private Ownership Are
Compared.

and Private Ownership Are
/ Compared.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 20.-ln compli-
ance with resolution of the senate,
introduced by Senator Pettigrew, the
interstate commerce commission has
compiled some data regarding the own
ership of railroads by foreign govern
ments. This is summarized as follows:
'It appears that 10 countries do not
own or operate railways, viz:
Colombia, Great Britain and Ireland.
Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, Spain, Switz-
erland, Turkey United States and Uru-
quay.
1.-THE following countries own and
operate some of the railways:
Argentine, Australasia, Austria-Hun-
gary, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Cape Of
Good Hope, Chill, Denmark, France,
Germany, Guatemala, India, Japan,
Norway, Portugal, Russia and Sweden.
The following governments own
part Of their railroads, but do not ope-
rate any, leasing all the present mileage
to private companies, viz:
Greece, Holland and Italy.
Though not claimed to be accurate, il
Is believed that the foregoing summary
represents an approximately correct
statement Of the relations Of the various
governments to the railways of the
world.
Little Encouragement For Ownership.
The relative rates charged for freight
and passenger service on the govern
ment owned railroads and the other
facts cited in connection with such
roads are calculated to afford little en-
couragement to the advocates Of gov
eminent ownership. A comparison of
passenger charges per mile shows an
average in Great Britain of 4.42 cents
for first class, $40 cents for second
class, and 1.94 for third class. In
France the average for first class is 1856
cents, for second class $3.50, and for third
class 2.08. In Germany the rate is 8. 10
cents first class, asa cents second class,
and 1.54 cents third class. In the
United States the average charge is 2.12
cents.
The average charges per ton per mile
are as follows:
In Great Britain $50 cents; in France
2.2O cents; in Germany 1.64 cents, and
in the United States cent. The in
terest on capital invested in the several
roads is as follows:
United Kingdom Al per cent; France
8.8 per cent; Germany 81 per cent;
Russia 5.3 per cent; Austria 81 per
cent; Belgium 4.6 per cent; United
States 81 per cent. The world 3D. per
cent.
The systems of operations of the rail-
roads in different countries is indicated:
In Austria about per cent of the
railroad mileage is owned, and about rs
per cent Is operated by the state. The
tariffs OF state roads are fixed by the
government; those of the companies
are subject to revision by the govern
ment every three years, and the gov
eminent has power to reduce rates if
the net earnings exceed 10 per cent ON
capital.
Operated at a Loss ia Canada.
In Canada about one-tenth of the
mileage of about $4,000 miles is owned,
controlled and operated by the govern
ment. For the year 1892 the operation
of the government lines resulted in
loss of over $600,00
At the present date by far the larger
portion (about fve-sixths) of the French
railway system is operated by private
companies, each company serving
definite territory and being compare
lively free from the competition Of
other lines. But the railroad properties
are ultimately to become the property
Of the government. This system is
mixed one Of state and private owner
ship.
In Germany nearly 80 per cent Of the
railway mileage is owned by the gov.
eminent. Under the law the govern
ment is required to manage the rail-
ways in the interest of general traffic
on single system. 1t may cause the
construction and equipment Of roads
and enforce uniform traffic and police
regulations.
In Great Britain and Ireland the gov
eminent does not own the railways.
There are neutrality-suspicious. provided
by law and administered by the rail-
road commission and board Of trade.
Italy Has Tried Both.
Italy has tried both state and private
railroads and has come to the conclusion
that it Is not advantageous to own and
operate the railways. The result was
reorganization of the whole railway
systems. Under the present system,
private companies operate the state
roads under contract with the govern
ment.
Elm Russia, the government is stated
to own and operate about 40 per cent Of
the railway mileage. Nearly all of the
railways owned by private companies
have received subsidies from the gov
eminent.
It is stated in the United States sew.
eral Of the states have railroad owner
ship in limited way. Illinois con-
structed road at cost Of $1,000, 900,
but disposed Of it for 800. 900; Indiana
had similar experience; Georgia owns
o railroad, but found it expedient to
lease it to private company; Pennsyl-
vania constructed railroad from Phil
adelphia to Columbia, but subsequently
sold it; Massachusetts,, Michigan and
several other states tried the expert
ment without success.
The interstate commerce commission
disclaims any original investigation on
this subject. the report being compiled
from existing sources Of information.
Ramsey County Prohibitionists.
ST. PAUL, Sept. 20.-Prohibitionist
of the Fourth District nominated Rev.
David Morgan for congress. AT the