Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1894-09-23

tically thelr railways: Egypt and Nj
earsgua-tWo.
The following governments own part
of their railways, but do not operate
any, leasing all the present mileage TO
private companies: Greece, Holland
and Italy-thres.
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 calcul ated 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 is
3.s6 cents for first class, 2.36 for second
class, and 2.Os cents for third class.
In Germany the rate is $40
cents for 6rst class, 2.32' cents
second class, and 1.54 third class. Ia
the United STATES the average charge
is 2.12 cents. The average freight
charges per ton per mile are as follows:
In Great Britain $50 cents; in France
2.2O cents; in Germany 1.64 and in the
r-sA-1 ga.A., = 10 oart
The interest on capital invested IN
the several countries is as follows:
United Kingdom Al per cent; France
3.s per cent; Germany 81 per cent;
Russia SIS per cent; Austria 81 per
cent; Belgium 40 per cent; United
States 81 per cent. The world 3.2 per
cent.
Regarding the systems Of operation
Of railroads in different countries, the
report says:
About ive-sixths Of the mileage in Aus
tralasia belongs 10 the various colonial
These roads were built
principally from moneys derived from
large loans negotiated by agents-general,
and their value forms one or the personal
assets for the public debt.
In Austria about 40 per cent Of the rail-
way mileage is owned, and about % per
cent is operated by the State. Upon the
expiration Of charters, not exceeding nine
" years, the lines, lands anc buildings of
the companies revert TO the government,
but the equipment remains the property Of
the private owners. Before a railway Is
opsned it must be approved bv the Minis
ter OF Commerce. The tariffs Of state
roads are fixed by the government; those
of the companies are subject 20 revision by
the government every three years, and the
government has power 70 reduce rates, il
the net earnings exceed is per cent on
capital
About thr~ee-fourths Of the railway mile
ace IN Belgium IS operated by the State.
The roads not owned by the government
will, under the terms OF their charters, Ill
timately revert to IL. Railway Affairs are
administered by a government depart
ment OF railways, pOstOthce and telegraph
The laws regulate tariffs. Railways are
exempt from taxation.
In Canada about Cne-teuth OF the total
mileage is owned and controlled by the
government. For the year 1892 the opera
ton of tae government lines resulted in a
loss Of over $500, 600.
At the present date by far the larger
portion about hve-sixthsl of the French
railway system is operated by private
companies, each company serving a det-
mite territory and being comparatively
free from the competition Of other lines.
But the railroad properties are ultimately
70 become the property Of the government.
This SYSTEM is a mixed one OF State and
private ownership. The competition OF
che .-fwEFa limos annannIlnn tina u0Nnrn-
ment 70 lease some Of the State lines TO
the former. On account Of the necessity
for additional taxation the scheme OF ma
tiOualization of the railway system was
abandoned in 1883.
In Germany nearly 90 per cent. OF the
railroad mileage is owned by the govern
meut. Under the law, the government IS
required 20 manage the railways IN the in
tereSt Of general traffic on a single system.
IL may cause the construction and equip
meut Of roads aud enforce uniform trahlc
and police regulations. Even the few pri-
vate railways are controlled by State
boards.
In Great Britain and ireland the govern
ment does not own any of the railways.
There are stringent regulations provided
by law and administered by the railway
commission and board of trade. New lines
cannot De constructed without the sanction
of Parliament. The act Of 1874 provides
that the government should have the right
TO acquire any railroad constructed after
its date by purchasing under certain con-
ditions the same fort sum equal 70 twenty
five years purchase Of annual dlylslole
profits, estimated on the average annual
profits for the three years preceding the
date Of purchase. This law, so far as II
relates to the government acquisition OF
--sH--a1a 10 nnuraH hnnn nnNnH
upOu. Twentv-three years later Gin 1867,
a commission appointed by the government
to report on the subject stated: 1--WE are
of the opiou that it is i~nexpedient az pres
eut 70 subvert the policy which has hither-
20 been adopted of leaving the COustrUC-
lion ana management of railroads 20
free enterprise OF the people, under such
conditions as parliament NAV think best to
impose for the general welfare Of the
pUblic.n
italy has tried both State and private
railroads, and has come to the conclusion
that il is not advantageous for the State
10 own and operate the railways. The re-
suit was the reorganization OF the whole
railway system. Under the present sys-
TEN private companies operate the State
roads under contract with the government.
The contracts run for sixty years, the gov
ment or the companies having the option
10 terminate them at the end of twenty
or forty years, upon a two years notice.
In Russia the government is stated to
own and operate about 40 per cent. of the
railway mileage. Nearly all Of the rail-
WAYS owned oy private companies have re-
ceived subsidies from the government.
The State is represented on boards Of d.
rectors. and all expenditures, declarations
Of dividends, etc. must be recommended
by the director and approved by the GOV
eminent.
It is stated that in the United States
several OF the States have tried owner