The Lamar register., 1900-11-07
PARIS CONTROLSROAD
PROF. JAMES EXPLAINS SYSTEM

Tells the Chicago Street-Raiiway Commis-
sion of the subway Plan Adopted In
the French M.trupOlis-rhe Public
Gets the Benefit.
In explaining the Paris subway sys-
TEN TO the Chicago street-rnilway com
mission yesterday, Professor Edmund
j. James of the University of Chicago
said that municipal ownership had re-
ceived an impetus in Europe from the
growth of the belief that II corporation
always gets the advantage in any fran
chisc.
The municipality of Paris desired to
construct ana operate an underground
system. but was blocked by the state
government. Then II middle course
was adopted. the city building the tun-
mel and substructure, while Il private
concern was authorized to equip and
operate the road Provisions to allow
the city to secure the road ut any time
within seven years and the reversion
of the system to the city after thirty
live years Were pointed out by Pro-
fessOr James rs evidences of the
growth of the municipal ownership
idea.
Stringent regulations govern the pri
vate concern. Compensation Is secured
through low fares. while the amounts
paid into the city trensury are eventu-
ally to liQuidate the loan of $35, 100000
authorized by the state for the con-
struction of the system. The city
through the franchise to the company
regulates the treatment of employees
and the running of trains for the pub
lie convenience.
OF the forty miles first contemplated
but eight and scven-tcnths miles have
been completed, six and eight-tenths
miles of which is II trunk line running
from one side of the city 10 the other.
The original estimate was S3O.OOO,OOO
to which was added S3,OOO.OOO for re-
constructing sewer systems and 3d.
0OO,0OO for an increase in the gauge of
the road, determined upon later. In
addition to this 1t was estimated the
private concern would have TO pay
S1O,OOO,OOO. making the total cost S4G,-
OOO.OOO. The cost of proposed added
lines will increase the mileage to fifty
miles and the cost 10 the city to $4G.-
100000
Plans for an underground road have
been contemplated for fifty years, ac-
cOrding to Professor james, but the
Worlds Fair of 1900 brought the OPP
portunity and the consent of the gen
ernl improvement TO city construction.
Professor James said:
AT least 135 trains In each direction
per day are required, and it is estimat
ed 1lOOOO,OOO passengers per year
must he carried to enable the city to
meet obligations, all over this number
being net profit.
First and second class fares are
provided Price of n single ticket. sec
ond class, from any one station to an
other, Is 3 cents: first class, D cents.
School children conducted by a teach
er are carried at the uniform rate of
cent. The city loan Is secured by II
levy of one cent upon every second
class ticket except the school children's
ticket and . cents upon every first
class ticket. 1t will be seen that this
is II very simple arrangement for d.
viding the risks between the city and
the company. French government.
general and city, like American
governments, have found it ex-
tremcly difficult to carry out any
scheme of dividing profits with private
enterprises. The managers of such
companies know so well how to con-
ceal profits by all sorts of devices that
the state or city rarely derives any ad-
vantage from such arrangements.
"Clnuses in the agreement for the
benefit of employees and laborers pro
Nluc minimum WaEc VI i'" iidhts Nt,''
per month, IL ten-hOur day. with one
rest day Il week. and an annual vaca-
ton of ten days with full pay. Full
salary must be allowed during periods
of military instruction and days OF
sickness certified to by II physician.
and in case of accident received while
on duty. accident insurance by the
company not deducted from wages.
Every employe is credited with de-
posit book in the national pension
fund. payments to he made by the
company. which is entitled to take two
per cent from the wages. but must de-
post six per cent. to establish gratu.
itous medical and drug service and to
insure worimen and employees against
accident. These stipulatons in favor
of workmcn and employees probably go
further than any similar stipulation
made by other cities.