The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1902-04-18
We prove
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cate them, say $2, 900, 600, 600. The
objection of cost would be reduced to
the minimum-from $11, 900, 600, 600 tc
~, 900, 600, 600.
The next step would be to make the
railways national highways -on ex-
actly the same principle as our coun-
try roads and city streets. Let any
company, corporation, mandatory OF
individual put on train and run it
freely over the road, just as they are
now privileged to put boats on our
rivers. or wagons, drays or hacks on
our dirt highways. They would, of
course, run as now subject to schedule,
first come first served Passenger,
mail or express trains or those carrying
Derishable freight of course would
have the right of way just as at
present. Then competition among the
companies or individuals in the car
rying trade would soon bring rates
down to their natural level. Supply
and demand would then regulate rates
just as they do in the case of hauling
on our streets and turnpikes. If
wholesale houses in New York or
Chicago thought rates We're too high,
they could put on their own trains, and
if they did not have sufficient business
to keep them going they would be in
the market to carry the freight of
others.
OF course it would not be necessary
to buy out all the roadbeds at once
A beginning could be made with one
transcontinental and one North and
South line. These would attract the
bulk of through business and cause
competing lines to reduce their
rates.
The building and maintenance of
the roadbeds, depots. terminal facili-
ties ETC., should be let out in sections,
by contract. to the lowest responsible
bidders, just as contracts are now let
for naval ship building, carrying the
mails, etc. In this way it would only
sioners, agents. ETC., in direct govern
ment employ-nothing like so many
as are now employed by the postal de-
partment. This reduces the second
great objection-of vast army of men
added to the government payroll, to the
minimum
AS the free turnpikes evolved from
the old toll road, maintained by indi-
viduals who profited by the toll, into
public highways, built and maintained
by the public, so should the railroads
evolve into public highways, built and
Enthusiastically the public, to be used
by all without further cost This
system would be but following the
evolution Of the ordinary highways and
doubtless would take kindly with the
of the people who look ask
ance at the proposition for the govern
lnent to buy out and operate the whole
railroad system.
Railroad patrons, including consum-
srs Of all goods which are carried over
railroads, would save $500, 600. 900 an
1ually which they now contribute to
furnish dividends on watered railroad
stock. This sum would support the
entire Federal government If economi-
,allv administered. In the meantime
'ailroads should be taxed on the market
7alue of their stocks and bonds.
There are strong grounds for suspec-
ng that the holders of railroad stocks
would be pleased to unload their prop
rites ut current market values on Uncle
'am. They could afford to retire on
heir guaranteed four per cent. This
would be the most gigantic individual
windle Of which history records.
"CAIUIS.