The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-01-20
N ANSWER n A POP
Continued from First Page.)

killed by the railroads, Mr.. Ripley finds
tina THEY fall roughly into four classes:
those killed at stations trying to board
or alight from moving trains. tramps
stealing rides. those killed at highway
crossings. and persons walking on the
track. These the Interstate Commerce
Commission put under two general head
those trespassing and those not trespdss-
ing; and it is shown that of the 4,4O6 peo-
pie of these classes killed, 3.Sl1 were tres
passers that is TO say, out of every y
persons killed, 70 were killed because they
were breaking the law. and were in places
where the railway people had no reason
to expect TO find them.
Mr. Ripley then speaks of the manner
in which European railroads are guarded
by stone walls. by military officers, and in
other ways, to which the American people
would decidedly object, and points out
that these precautions. even in England,
have made the lines cost four times as
much as they cost in the United States.
If the same precautions were taken along
the railroads in the state of Kansas it
would mean an additional investment Of
about 81. 900, 900 900 in that state alone, the
interest on which at per cent would be
800 600, 600.
SAFEST WAY TO TRAVEL.
Mr. Ripley warmly defends the railroad
employees of the country against the
charge OF negligence in the exercise Of
their duty. and concludes this branch Of
the subject by saying that statistics show
fewer lives are lost by railway transporta-
ton in proportion 20 the miles Travelled
than by wagon travel. horseback travel
elevator travel. bicycle travel. street car
travel. ship travel. or any other known
method Of locOmotion
Mr. Ripley draws the conclusion that
the plea of government ownership be-
cause of the number Of persons whom the
railways kill. is entirely worthless
GOVERNMENT OWNERSHIP.
Coming down to the question Of owner
ship. he says that to himself and other
railway officers it is a matter Of entire
indifference If the government owned
the railroads it would need just as many
and probably more men 10 operate them.
and he expresses himself as entirely will
ing to take his chances on getting equally
as good position as that which he now
enjoys.
Next. he says. comes the question
whether or no the owners OF railways are
opposed to government ownership. On
this point. ne says. the strongest plea
made in behalf Of government ownership
is that OF T. p. Blackstone. president Of
the Chicago and Alton road. He urged
il as a measure Of justice to the railway
investors. He says there IS no holder Of
railway securities who does not believe
that those securities would be advanced
in value If there was any prospect Of the
government buying them.
Mr.. Ripley says # lie is opposed 70 gov
eminent ownership. II IS not as railway
man, but as citizen. The argument has
been made. ne says. that the government
should have charge Of the railways be-
cause private administration ~ them is
satisfactory. As a matter of fact, how
ever. the best managed railways of the
world are the English. They are all
owned and operated by private companies.
Next 20 them in good MANAGEMENT are
France. while the government-owned lines
III France are very bad
LEGAL DIFFICULTIES
Coming 10 another feature % the cues
ton. Mr. Ripley says there IS grave
doubt whether ths government has the
legal riEh: 70 obtain ownership ~ the
lines Tor The purpose Of operating saern.
and there IS sttu the more formsdabis
question as 70 whether the government
after It had got possession % the lines.
could operate them inside Tire limits q Tbs
several states without radical changes IN
our constitution and in the whole preseu;
fabric q the relations u state and IA
,ioaaI authority. Aside from TIA; the
only way 81 which the government could
get possession 81 the railways vouia -
by purchase A. a reasonable price. That
price has been va-i5gs1y estimated - -
anywhere from s. ada 90 50 70 81 - ass =
DC Supposs-E = vas the iowsst nGure.
the amount x,ould hs axe times TIE pres
en- national debt Ire government HIS
Rad soma enhz-rasS1zsnr IL foatlnE
bonds for hundred rnllioa er So TIE
government eogls probably hoTraz =
o. 30 50 bot Il wuuId be unpleasant 70
have 10 ID g. Iate-ezt 90 thzt az-euHt
q ? per cent woasd b@ Flo - &c pr pear
1T = eaSv 70 TAX ~ SAYS. ~cs enc
-orernuae-. zfvIzE better service. eracsoy-
ing rz.ore men. loEersnr rafes azsd EttG
G-Akiag uaca@y. As a matter q fzcs- gov-