Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1894-09-21
RAILROAD OWNERSHIP.
Some Statistics Compiled by the In
terstate Commerce Commission
by Direction Of Congress.
AN INTERESTING REPORT,
In Which the Results Of Government
and Private Ownership Are
Compared.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 20.-ln compli-
ance with a 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:
lit appears that 10 countries do not
own Or operate railways, viz:
Colombia, Great Britain and Ireland.
Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, Spain, Swift
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, it
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 OF 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
ernment ownership. A comparison Of
passenger charges per mile shows an
average in Great Britain of 4,42 cents
for first class, 800 cents for second
class, and 1874 for third class. In
France the average for first class is 1856
cents, for second class 2.86, and for third
class 2.08. In Germany the rate is $40
cents first class, 1882 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 $3.50 cents; in France
2.20 cents; in Germany l.64 cents, and
in the United States / cent. The in
terest on capital invested in the several
roads is as follows:
United Kingdom d. per cent; France
3.8 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 80 per
cent.
The systems Of operations of the rail-
roads in different countries is indicated:
In Austria about 8 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 Is per cent on
capital.
Operated at q Loss In 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 a
loss of over $500, 200.
At the present date by far the larger
portion (about f%ve-sixths) Of the French
railway system is operated by private
companies, each company serving a
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 a
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 a single system. It 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 stringent regulations 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 ant
operate the railways. The result was {
reorganization Of the whole railway
systems. Under the present system
private companies operate the stat,
roads under contract with the govern
ment.
I'm Russia, the government is stated
to own and operate about 40 per cent O
the railway mileage. Nearly all Of th'
railways owned by private companie
have received subsidies from the gov
, eminent.
It is stated in the United States sew
eral Of the states have railroad owner
. ship in a limited way. Illinois con
structed a road at a cost Of 81, 900, 900
, - $500 - "a go a nv. nnotsEr r :. Za.9