The herald., 1894-12-08
LETTER BAG.
THE HERALD under this heading prints COM
muntcations, out does not assume responsi l.
bility for the sentims nts expressed1


Government ownsrshtp OF Railways.
EDITOR HERALD II notice an editor
ial In this mornings HERALD giving the
earnings Of the railroads in New Zeal
and, which are owned and operated by
h, government, showing . large profit
to the government. and from the fact oi
the government there making money
out Of their roads. you advocate that ESQ
l infer) private individuals could build
and operate little road OF 200 miles
from here TO San joaquin ct profit to
themselves and this city.
II such 10 the case, will you explain TO
me why your national government can
not own and operate all OF the railroads
in the United States. 1T profit to the
national government, which is the
American people?
have lived many years in Auckland.
New Zealand, and know full we'll that
the governments almost impoverished
the colony by building railroads and
other government Improvements, which
10 this country are private but gigantic
monopolies, for the advancement and
rettling mp OF the colony. l also know
shat In the last three years New Zealand
has been recovering herself, and is today
the most prosperous colony in Austria
lasia. which everyone livirg there thinks
is due to her railroad system and other
public necessities, which are owned and
operated there by tho government, and
which, In this country, are owned by q
few individuals in the shape Of corpora
tions.
Would you kindly inform me why the
United States government cannot foTo.
close the mortgage on Q certain trans-
continetal railroad. own the road itself,
operate 1t itself for the benefit OF irself,
which 10 the American people, viz, by
the unemployed a. we'll "a the monopo-
list?
have only been in your country two
years. but long enough to know that
there 10 q transcontinental railroad
which your government built. or rather
advanced money, ETC., enough to build
it and another road half way across the
continent. The mortgage on the rail>
road is coming due shortly. Kindly ex.
plain to me why you (the United States
nstional government) cannot foreclose
said mortgage, own, and operate the
road by and for the government, which
10 BY and for the people, If they can
own and operate their reads in New
Zealand at profit, % you claim they do
in this mornings issue OF your paper.
and 10 know they do, as we'll % In
Victoria and New South Wales?
II the New Zsalsnd government can
build and operate her railroads at q
profit, and you advocate from that that
. private corporation can build aud OPP
crate to their own and this city's faan-
cial advantage 200-mile road, cannot
see why your national government can.
not close this mortgage (Which they will
never receive anything from. nyhow).
own and operate the road and
reap the benefit of the profits
accruipg from the came. OF course.
l being from the benighted colony of
New Zealand Gas the average citizen OF
the United States looks upon it) may
not know all Of the internal workings OF
your national government, but ii It 10
not from standing in" with the pro-
fsssional politician and the monopolist,
cannot see why your form of govern
:sens could nc: own aud operate your
railroads and several other public ne.
ceaeities, which are controlled and ope-
rated by corporations, to greater advan
tage than in Australia and several OF the
countries of Europe.
Hoping you will publish and answer
this. L am q contant reader and sub
scriber Of the HERALD.
New ZEALANDER.