Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-07-21

anu fetHcS all dSeQ employees.
The Capitalization of Power.
Assistant Secretary Of Agriculture Dab
ney. when asked his opinion as to whether
the farmer would be benefited by govern
ment control of railways said: Il am too
much Of an old Jeffersonian democrat to adj
vocate the Capitalization of SO much power
in the hands OF the governn n In a few sec
tons the farmer is pressed by the railroads,
but in nine-tenthS of the localities he IS
benefited. He supports them by furnish
ing them most of their freight and they
help him by giving him a wider COMPETE
ton. tiity years ago the farmer had no
competition. except with his neighbors but
today. By means of the railway, he can
compete with the world. / not only think
the farmer should be satisfied with the
present system. bat l do not think he could
risk the change you propose
TIE faYorite argument of most knowing
men against government control in reply
to the question why do SO many other
countries find the government system the
best? Is that these nations are physically
different from ours. and that their popula-
ton. not being so widely scattered, does not
ueccssitate such a tremendous enterprise
that too many roads here connect the same
points. The English. French, German and
Russian systems seem to afford the best
comparisons In these countries. 1t should
be observed. government control took eff
feet long before competing lines had been
enabled to build in the same territory, be
tween the same great centers of popula-
ton. In most OF these countries the me-
tropols forms the great railroad center,
and connection is made with the surround
ing cities by singles lines When the
French system WAS 1naugurated IT was the
scheme OF the government to make Paris
the great hub. from which lines were to
branch off to every great city on the con-
ttneat, and 1t will be noticed at the present
day that this idea has had more or less
success. If the government OF the United
States were TO buy the principal connect
ing lines between the greatest centers OF
population. leaving the less desirable ones
in private hands and II the blackstone
scheme were applied to these lines, after
they became government property, all pri-
waite interest would be dissolved in a few
years causing a condition of affairs which
would arouse the Indignation of the labor
ing classes there employed.
Army of Employees.
The same number OF employees, however.
would have u be kept busy the govern
mert roads. since more trains would have
to be run over the single track and at
shorter intervals OF time. If the individual
lines we're taken UP and put down Ia a
single system Of many tracks. for the sake
of safety. a great expense would be in
CURED: but this would be endured If great
reductions were offered to the people in the
future. The force Of a million of trainmen
might be enrolled In manner similar to
the army. each with fixed salaries and
terms. from which they could not easily
deviate Strikes in the ranks OF the armies
OF the world are uncommon. NOT to say I'M
known. The machine shops of the railroad
companies would oTer the best government
schools of engineering, and one large plant
could perform all the necessary work for
the railroads. army and navy. Put the
deSt OF the government brought on by the
purchase of the whole country's systems
can't be o5timateJ. any more than can the
number Of years IL wouid take ID clear the
debt before reductions could begin to be
made.
Before railroad can be constructed in
England. IL must be proven 10 the govern
ment that the exploit is a public necessity,
rather than commercial enterprise: that
IL tends TO develop and improve the inter-
ests along the route and thai the projectors
can succeed In the plans OF construction
Parliament Incorporates the company, gives
1t specified powers and restrictions. and
even after the road Is built by government
authority. II cannot be opened until tn.
government las officially inspected all Of
its works. After the line is opened. the
further consent Of parliament must be had
before IT may be abandoned.
In France under the existing laws. tho
companies contribute a certain amount per
mile toward construction. furnish the roll
Ing stock and station equipment, the re-
naming expenses being borne by the state
BY far the larger portion of the systems is
now operated by the companies each sery-
ing a distinct territory and being thus free
from competition Of other lines The roads
make thei- own rates, but a government
bureau reviews them. Reductions can only
go into effect after three months notice.
and increase after a years notice. The pas
senger traffic. In most foreign countries
Is divided into three classes while freight
rates are generally ba sed on value and are
also subject To government control
In Germany and RUSSIA.
Ninety per cent of the railroad mileage
of Germany is owned and operated by the
government The state roads are controlled
hx-f ha fvr,n Al
private roads are under the management of
local state boards Of commerce The gov
eminent operates all Of its own roads. fur
nishes all Of its rolling stock. appliances
and permanent way. All motive power.
equipment, and all works Of engineering in
the country. are regulated By a code Of laws
passed by the legislative body. which is al
tered from time to time.
In Russia the car owns and operates
only Ons-thi-d OF the railways. the remain
der being under private authority. although
In most cases they receive aid from the
government in guarantees. The state rail-
ways are managed by board appointed by
the government. which superyises the finan-
cial affairs. makes rates. and resembles the
directory Of private corporation. Each
line has its general manager, or executive
and Is administered usually on the plan OF
a private railway. In case the expenses ex-
coed the earnings. the government makes
appropriations. The private lines are char
porters prove them TO be vaiua BILE to the
public. az is the rule in England. They
must be built In a specified time after
plans approved by the government. and they
cannot be opened until the work has met
the approval Of tn. state. 4 tariff council
fixes the rates The government; makes rules
for construction and maintenance appoints
an inspector for each private railway, AMI
when read seeks government aid the
state is represented In its directorate.
According to the last universal statistics
the railroad mileage of the United States is
about 3.S.rN miles more than the whole o.
Europe the greatest railroad division Of the
old contineno. $4,000 miles more than
Asia. f5S.ooo more than Africa ana 1865.
more than Australia.
Our railway mileage Is about 800 miles
more than that OF these four great
divisions OF the eastern continent combin-
ed. whereas their aggregate receipts are an
nually about S35S.UU.1N more than ours |
which shows how much more business Is
done on greatly reduced mileage without
Increasing rates.
Proving Rls Genainenesa.
From the Chicago IaterLbcraa.
is that a real Englishman of title ths,
is devo,ing himself to Miss Goldcoin-'
Yes"