The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-08-31
GOVERNMENT OWNERSHIP OF RAIL
WAYS.


fusion platform demands Government owner
ship of railroads. and much of its length is de
voted to demanding, also, Government ownership OF
other business enterprises the net effect OF which
would be to put the Government in CONTROL as an
employer of majority OF the business OF the
country.
| The argument for all this departure from the past
ways Of the republic is the cost OF transportation
Mr. Bryan in his speech accepting the Presidential
nomination in 1896 said that all prices had declined
except railroad rates That declaration to
have been the beginning OF the present demand tor
Government ownership of railways In the recent
convention OF Nebraska Senator
Allen gave loud and long voice to this demand. AS
it is made and put in issue in current politics, its
basis the reason given for it, should be calmly
amined
At the outset of such examination it is that
Mr.. Bryans statement had no foundation in fact.
Whatever fault may be found with present rates,
not true that they the rates OF the past
In 1852 the Pennsylvania Railroad received $40
cents per ton per mile. In 1895 it received only SO
of cent per ton per mile.
The report of the Interstate Commerce Commits
sion shows the average rate for freight and passen
ger transportation in the United States to have de-
clined follows in the eight years fromI88S to 1896:
1SSS-Fares. 2.34s cents per mile
1S88-Freights, 1.001 cents per ton per mile.
1S96-Fares, 2019 cents per mile.
1896-Freights. .S06 cent per ton per mile.
Between 1870 and 1895 freight rates all roads in
the United States fell SO per and passenger rates
fell % per cent During the period wheat corn,
cotton OATS barley, hemp and tobacco fell average
of IL per cent; food fell 123 per and clothing
$50 per cent Taking groups OF railway lines repre-
sentng different sections of the country, the fall be-
tween 1872 and 1906
Lake Shore and Michigan Southern-From 1.SS
to 90
Chicago and Alton-From 1Se to S6.
Texas and Pacifc-From 5.13 to ILL
Southern Pacifc-From 1855 to 1.26.
Experience not only in California, but throughout
the country has shown competition, and other ele-
ments inherent in business laws and principles be
the real force in the fall and equalization of rates. of
which we have a local example in the changed
dition of rates from San Joaquin Valley points since
the construction of the San Joaquin Valley Railroad
Therefore is politics that has effected this de-
cline in the cost of travel and transportation in the
United States. It cost eleven billions of dollars to
build and equip the 10000 miles of railway in this
country Do the fusionsts propose to reach Govern
ment ownership by buying those roads at that price?
Or do they propose duplicate them the less
at which roads be built? This less cost
would enable duplication of the system for say six
billions of dollars. Where do they propose to get the
money?
These propositions are made upon the theory that
Government ownership will give cheaper service and
the roads of France, Belgium Germany, Austria and
Italy cited examples of successful Government
ownership and operation. The latest reliable COM
parson of rates here and in Europe gives the follow
ing results