The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1894-09-28

| 81 cents third class. In the Oniteo
Sta,es the average charge is ?. IL cents'
The average charges per ton per mlie IA
Great Britain are 80 cents; IN france
30 cents; in Germany, IA cents, ana
in the United States, cent
The interest Oh capital invested III Iile
several countries is AS follows: German!
81 per cent; Russia 5,3 per cent Aus
ira 3 per cent; Belgium 40 per cent
Unite. States 3. l per cent. The "of'a'
3.2 per cent.
The system of operation Of the rail-
roads in different countries is indicated:
| In Austria about per cent OF the fal'-
way mileage is owned and about - per
cent is operated by The states. Upon the
expiration charters, not eXctelng W
wears. the lines, lands and buildings OF
| the companies revert to The government,
| but tie equipment remains The property
! of the private owners. Before arallWay Is
opened il must be approved by the mihls-
ter OF commerce. Tne tariffs of state
roads are fixed by the government; those
Of the companies are subject 10 reYision
by the government every three years,
and the government nas power to reduce
rates, if the he, earnings exceed 10 per
cent on the capital.
In Canada about one tenth Of the mli e.
age OF about $4,000 miles is owned and
controlled and operated by the govern
ment For the year 1892 the operation
Of the government lines resulted IN
loss of over 100000.
"At the present date by Tar the larger
portion (about five -slXths) OF the French
railway system is operated by private com
panles, each company serving definite
territory and being comparatively tree
from the competition 81 other lines. But
the railroad properties are Ultimately TO
become the properly Of The government
This system is mixed one oi state
and private owneship.
"In Germany neary 90 per cent OF
the railway mileage is owned by the
government. Uhdtr the law the govern
ment is required 10 manage the railways
in the interest OF general traffic on j
single system. Il may cause the con
struclon and equipment OF roads and
enforce uniform Ii attic and police regula-
:ions.
sin Great Britain and Ireland the gov
ernment does not own the railways.
There are stringent regulation prnvid-
ed by law and administered by the railway
commission and board ot trade.
Italy has tried both state and priv
.te railroads, and has come 10 the con-
iu>lon that it is not advantageous to
own and oprla0e the railways. The result
was reorganization OF the whole rail
way systems. Under the present syste ii
;ivate companies operate the state roads
under contract with the government
.In Russia the government IS stated
10 own aud operate about 40 per cent oi
the railway mileage. Nearly all of the
railways owned by private companies
have received subsidies from tue gov
ernment.
1T is stated that in the United states
several of the states have tried owner
ship in limited way. Illinois construc
ted road at a cost OF 100000 but dis
posed OF it for 100000; Indiana had a
similar experience; Georgia owns a rail-
road, but found it expedlent to lease it
TO private company. Pennsylvania con-
structed railroad from Philadelphia to
Columbia, but subsequently sold it;
Massach huse,ts, Michigan and several
other states tried the experiment without
success.
The interstate commerce commission
disclaims any original investigation on
the subject, the report beng compiled
from existing sources Of information.