Arizona republican., 1898-03-10
AMERICAN AND ENGLISH ROADS.

The controversy between English
 and American writers on the merits
 of the railway methods of the two
 countries has been interesting but
 often misleading. Some Americans
 assert that England's transportation
 facilities are twenty-five years behind the times, and the impression given by numerous British correspondents is that there is nothing here worthy of comparison with what is taken as a matter of course in England. That the extremists on both sides are wrong will not be disputed. The difficulty is to get anything reliable out of news paper and magazine articles, and the reader is sure of only one thing, that neither country can claim exclusive possession of the champion boaster on railroad speeds.
 In decided contrast with the mis- information in general circulation is a i long review written for the London Times by an engineer who has trav- eled extensively in both countries and who evidently was a close observer. The substance of his conclusions Is that during the past ten years Ameri- can roads have improved more than the English lines; in 1888 comparison between express speeds could not be made because American trains were notoriously slow. England has a 1arg- CT number of fast expresses, but it is admitted that there is nothing on Brit ish soil equal to three of the fastest American trains, one of which has an average record of sixty-nine and one-half miles an hour But the writer was more impressed with the American practice Of running on schedule time. It is easier, in his judgment, to make a record for a single trip than to arrive on time week after week regardless of the inter crowded with traffic.
 The popular impression that the English roadbeds are superior to the American probably is correct Be- tween cities English trains are run at full speed. Grade crossings, so con- mon in this country, are not found on the principal British roads, Be- tween New York and Albany one of the fast trains is compelled to slow down eight times, although there is no stop for passengers on this 143-mile stretch, and this train is compelled to move slowly over grade crossings in cities On the New York division of the Shore Line an hour and half is required for the seventJ-three miles because there are six drawbridges. These are liable to be opened at any time and caution is indispensable to safety. In addition to disadvantages are 50 per cent heavier than the Eng fish trains, and the rule is to use only one locomotive, while in England two engines are often employed, although the train may weigh only 270 tons, against $50 to 400 tons on the Ameri- can roads.
 The conclusion to be drawn from the observations of an unprejudiced English visitor is that Americans have no reason to apologize for their railway service. This does not neces- sarily mean that our roads are perfect, for it is obvious to every discriminat- ing traveller that they are not, but the speed of the best trains is high and time tables can be depended upon, and this, according to the London Times contributor, is more than can be said of the English expresses. Much can be overlooked when trains are always on time, and promptness ap- pears to be the rule here In England it is not, and thus in one respect at least the American travellers have an important advantage over tourists in Great Britain.