The Louisiana populist., 1898-03-11
PUBLIC OWNERSHIP,
Or RAILROADS AND MUNICH
PAL UTILITIES.
senator Aliens Statistics of Foreign
Railroads as Given to the Senate
Brilliant Success OF Public Ownership
Of Street Railways In Glasgow.

Senator Allen Of Nebraska in a
speech delivered in the United States
senate, gave list of governments who
own, or partly own their railways as
follows:
The Argentine Republic owns $40
miles Of railway. Five-sixths OF the
railways Of Australia belong to the
various colonial governments.
In Austria-Hungary about 40 per
cent Of the mileage is owned and about
73 per cent is operated by the state.
Three-fourths Of the mileage OF Bel
gium Is owned and operated by the
state. The state owns one-fourth OF
the total mileage of Brazil and does
one-half Of the entire railway mile
age OF the country. In Canada one
tenth of the mileage is owned and con-
trolled by the government. One-half
of the railways Of the Cape OF Good
Hope, Of English South Africa, is own
ed by the government. In Columbia
the railways have been subsidized by
the government with the understand
Ing that at a certain period they will
become government property. Den
mark owns and controls three-fourths
OK the total mileage Of her railways.
Egypt owns and operates its railways.
In France the railways are ultimately
to become the property of the govern
ment. They have mixed system of
state and private ownershps. Ninety
per cent OF the railway mileage OF
Germany is owned by the government.
In England. ny the act of 1914, 1t was
provided that the government should
have the right TO acquire any railroad
constructed with Its aid. Of purchasing
the same for a sum equal to twenty
five years Of annual diyisible profits
estimated On the annual profits for
three years preceding the date OF pur-
chase. A part OF the railways OF Greece
are owned by the government. Guata-
mala owns and operates u part OF her
railway system, Holland owns one-half
OF her system. Two-thirds of the rail-
ways of India belong to the govern
ment.
In Mexico the charters granted to
ali railways contain provision Oy
which all shall revert to the govern
ment in fifty years from the date of
the charter.
The roads Of Nicaragua are owned
by the government. Norway's rail.
ways are owned by the government
and so are Paraguay's. rhirty-eignt
per cent of the mileage Of Portugal is
owned by the government, and the
laws provide that all railways shall
revert to the government in 80 years.
In Russia the government owns and
operates 20 per cent of the mileage.
The railway mileage Of Turkey belongs
to private companies. but Turkey Is
the sick man.
The municipal ownership o. street
railways has proved successful in many
instances. The latest success hos heen
achieved In Glasgow 1t was in July,
1894, that the city declared its inde-
pendence of the companies that leased
its lines. Mr.. B. o. Flower says in the
New Time that the inception of the
venture was looked upon with some
doubt He narrates ne circumstances
which led up to 1t Us follows:
The lease would probably have been
renewed II the company had treated It's
servants with greater consideration.
About six winters long hours and low
wages led the men to strike. and be-
fore the struggle was over a strong
body OF public opinion was created in
favor Of municipalizing the tram traffic
at the first opportunity.
"The city extended its lines, reduced
fares, and the returns have fully justi.
fed the course that was taken. From
July, 1894. to June. 1885, the city clear
ed over 100000 above all expenses
For the succeeding year the amount
earned above expenses was more thar
100000. AS 1t is now the employees arr
better treated, the fares are greatly re-
duced, the service has been wonder
fully improved. the lines have been ex
tended, and the public has been henc
fted prodigiously by the change. Glas
Cow has certainly accomplished grea
things, and her example could be fol
lowed with profit by other cities"