The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1900-12-22
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OTHER COUNTRIES LEAD AMERICA
IN OWNERSHIP OF RAILROADS.
Some Interesting Figures on the
Government Ownership of Rail-
roads and Telegraphs in Other
Lnnds-We. Have Little Company
in Our Policy of Exclusive Private
Control Of These Public Utilities.
For the year ending March 81, 1900,
the total estimated revenues of Prussia
the total estimated revenues Of Prussia
amounted to $5S1, 1,581, 1897, Of which
1921 ,629 came from the state rail-
ways. The net profits Of the state rail-
ways were $1S2,752,352. The total
amount raised by direct taxation was
$45, ,7S2,950, and by indirect taxation $19,-:
721, ,250. The interest on the entire pub
lie debt, including all the money raised
for the purchase of railroads and for
every other purpose, was $56, 1922, ,311.
Thus the profits on the government
railroads and for every other purpose,
was $56, ,921, 1921. Thus the profits on the
government railroads paid the interest
on the debt, balanced the whole amount
raised by taxation, direct and indirect,
and left $10,326,S41 over, which is more
than three times the cost of supporting
the king (Prussian kings being much
cheaper than our kings of f1nance.):
oF
ment railroads and 2,49S belong to pri-
vate owners. It is the policy of the
government to acquire the few remain
ing lines as rapidly as possible.
In 1889 forty-two companies operated
75.4 per cent of the trunk line mileage
of Russia. In 1899 there are only nine
| companies, operating 40 per cent, while
the government operated 60 per cent, or
| 16, 414 miles. The Russian state rail-
| roads formerly run at loss, now bring
in a profit Notwithstanding the fact
that the government has built so many
lines for military purposes, without re-
gard to commercial consideration.
| In Austria proper the government
owns and operates 400 miles of rail-
road and operates 1850 miles more be-
longing 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 1922 miles owned
and operated by corporations. In
France most of the railroads are run
by strictly regulated corporations, but
all of them by the term of their char
ters, will become the property of the
nation. between 1850 and 1860. In
j Italy the government owns 5, COS 81 and
llgEazats RRselss 8 g, H'.s :ssts
under cont act which may be termin.
ated III 1905. Il q &! 4. u 5S
In Belgium 2,069 miles Of railroad
are operated by the state and 79S miles
by corporations.
In the Netherlands there are 961
miles of public and 761 miles Of private
railroads.
In Switzerland the voters have de.
cided by the referendum to acquire the
entire railroad system fthe country.
In Sweden the government owns
1888 miles of railroads and corpora.
In Denmark the government owns
1,108 miles and the corporations 460.
England has private railroads, but
her colonies and dependencies have
gone in for public ownership.
In India only 3,600miles out of 22,-
491 belong to private companies, al
though they operate nearly $4,000 be-
longing to the government or native
states.
In every colony Of Australia the gov.
ernment owns most of the railroads
In New South Wales it owns the. street
car lines as we'll: =. 49,. =
In Cape Colony. the government
owns 2,34S miles of railroad against s5l
miles in private hands. In Natal the
J government owns all the railroads.
Tn Egypt it. owns all but 72 miles ou
Of 1.169.
I'm Japan, Chill, Argentine and Bra
zil the railroad systems are divided be-
! tween public and private ownership.
i We have little company in our polio!
Of exclusive: private control over ou1
means of transportation. About tn.
;. only, countries that go with us on thai
line are England and Spain; .':...
:: But when we come to .telegraphs W,
are more lonesome yet. England ani
Spain have their postal telegraph sys
4 TENS. Sc does every: country in Europe
: every country Of Asia OF any import
ance, every colony of note in Africa
every colony IN Australia. and thu
principal republics of America. w
loom UP. in q: solitary grandeur as th>
only great country in the world tina.
permits a part of it's postal system tt
remain. in private hands. And ever
we are operating railroads and tele
{ graphs with success in the Philippine.
and telegraphs in Porto Rico, although
we cannot give our own people thu
benefits enjoyed by our Subjects
II It is estimated that one years sale
of ice in New York at: a. reasonable
, price would pay the whole cost of. {
!, municipal ice plant and leave a sur.
plus for something else. -:
\ Some persons; who admit that public
lownership would be a good thing IL
!; itself ask where the people would :get
all the billions Of dollars needed to blu,
l. out the public utilities now controlled
by private monopolies., w.
Doon, &H,fc h. Nko ,,1o-,.