Evening star., 1895-07-16
RAILROAD OWNERSHIP.
A Representative of the Norway Gov
ernment Studying Our System.

A Representative of the Norway Cow
ernment Studying Our System.
F,tm the Chicago Record.
The government of Norway is taking
notes OH American railroad systems in the
person of its representative, c. L. Ander-
son, auditor general of the railroads Of
that country Mr.. Anderson has now spent
a week In Chicago. "My expectations Of
America have been greatly surpassed by
what I have seen during my short visit"
he. said yesterday, land in no respect more
than that of the railway systems in this
country. Especially did I desire to see the
system of accounts used by American rail-
roads, as that touches my department d.
rectly. l find that the mode of keeping ac-
counts is very similar. but that statistics
are condensed to a much greater degree
than In Norway, enabling any person to
unde. -tand the condition of the roads. This
is feature which 1 shall try to have in
troduced in my own department. The Nor
wegian government controls all the rail-
way lines in Norway. and the system Is
success. There are some thousand miles
OF railroads, with clever divisions, but as
several systems often use the same road
bed We have more miles of road in the ag-
gregate than that figure might Indicate.
The longest run that can be made Is about
600 miles. There are three classes of pas
senger accommodations, with a maximum
rate a mile of what would equal 212 cents.
have adopted coaches like those in Amer
Tea. except that they are shorter. On the
whole, it is much pleasanter- to travel in
America than in Norway.
'AS to the question of the benefits OF
governmental ontrol of roads and its feas-
ibility in this country. 1 cannot say much
that is definite Considering the systems
of Norway and America they are, it
81 TO bat m n
aged more as a man would manage his pri-
vate business. for his own best interest
ard that of the public, which is the same
thing, with railroad. / regard the fixing
of the tariffs by the government as a pub
lie benefit. 1t makes them uniform and
stable; not subject to the cuts which are
50 common in this country. have great
doubt If cut rates really aid business and
tra ffic and do not disturb them The more
stable system, on the other hand, has its
disadvantages. 1t is hard for the rail-
roads in Norway to satisfy the people in
their demands for changes when conditions
vary and make change necessary. There
can be no change in rates there unless the
matter is submitted to the department,
and 1T usually takes three months before
anything. is accomplished The railway in
dust-y of the United States is SO stupen-
deus that there might be some question
about the ACCESSIBILITY. of governmental
quick and good service with the red tape of
government to be gore through with.
Competition has made the great rail-
roads of this country. The fine accom-
modal tons are the result of competition.
Ard now / think the railroads are being
brought by their competition to uni
| formity in rates and service, a sort OF de-
fsnse against themselves which will do
much good. Still if the government of the
| United States could manage the railroads
without loss to itself think 1t ought to
obtain the control. The roads in Norway
| pay dividends as high as per cent in some
| branches. and 1 think, altogether. there is
q proFr