The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1900-09-14
GOVERNMENT OWNERSHIP.


/ 0A0oSsy n00OC0 the n0r0O0D
Of Taxation.
For the year ended March 81, 1900
the total estimated revenues of Prus-
STA amounted to 1851, 5s1 1897, of which
1921, 10000 came from the state rail
ways. The net profits of the street
railways were $1s2, 1852. The total
amount raised by direct taxation was
$45, $50. and by indirect taxation,
SIS, 721 $50. The interest on the entire
public debt, including all money
raised for the purchase of railroads
and for other purposes, was $50, 921,-
311. Thus the profits of the govern
ment railroads paid the interest on
the debt, balanced the whole amount
raised by taxation. direct and indirect
and left $1O.3s6.S 41 over, which is more
than three times the cost of support
ing the king (Prussian kings being
cheaper than our kings of financel.
Prussia has 3O,26S miles of govern
ment railroads and 2,49S belongs to
private owners. 1t is the policy of
the government to acquire the few
remaining lines as rapidly as possible.
49," IL SoAApd ODeTaU0U A5.4
per cent of the trunk line mileage
OF Russia In 1889 there were only
companies, operating 40 per cent
while the government operated go per
cent, or 16,414 miles. The Russian
state railroads, formerly run at q loss.
now bring in profit notwithstand-
ing the fact that the government has
built So many lines for military pur-
poses, without regard to commercial
consideration.
In. Austria proper the government
owns and operates 400 miles of rail-
road and operates 1850 miles more
belonging to private companies. Lines
owned and operated by corporations
amount to 1852 miles. In Hungary
the government operates 1876 miles
OF It's own and 3,439 miles belonging
to companies, against 1,S22 miles
owned and operated by corporations.
In France, most of the railroads are
run by strictly regulated corpora
tons, but all of them, by the terms
of their charters, will become the
property of the nation between 1850
and 1860.
In Italy the government owns 5,6OS
and private companies, 1851. The
state railroads are operated by COR
poratiOns under contract which NAV
be terminated in 1905.
In Belgium 1900 miles of railroad
are operated by the state and 79S
miles by corporations.
In the Netherlands there are 961
T1i1oc Of
waite railroads.
In Switzerland the voters have de-
cidedceby the referendum to acquire
the entire railroad system of the coun- |
try.
In Sweden the government owns
2,2s3 miles of railroad and corpo-
rations 4,O67 miles.
In Denmark the government owns |
2,2S3 miles of railroad and the COR
pOrations $780,
England has private railroads, but
her colonies and dependencies have
gone in for public ownership.
In India only 5000 miles out of 49,
491 belong to private companies, al
though they operate nearly $4,000
belonging to the government or ma
tive states.
In every colony Of Australia the
government owns all or most of the
railroads. In New South Wales it
owns the street car; lines as well.
In Cape Colony the government
owns 2,34S miles of railroad against
$50 miles in private hands. In Natal
the government owns all the railroads.
In Egypt it owns all but 72 miles
out of 1859. f..
:. In japan, Chill, Argentine and
Brazil the railroad systems are divided
between public and private owner
ship.
We have little company in our policy
Of exclusive private control over our
means of transportation. About the
only countries that go with us on
that line are England and Spain.
But when we come to telegraphs
we are more lonesome yet. England
and Spain have their postal systems.
So does every country in Europe,
every country of Asia of any impor-
lance. every colony of note in Africa,
every colony in Australia, and the
principal republics of America. We
loom up in solitary grandeur as the
only great country in the world that |