The St. Louis Republic., 1902-07-18
PUBLIC nwNERsIur OF TERMINUS.


ST. Louis would give magnificent demonstration
of practical public ownership if the municipality could
take charge of the project for extensive railroad ter
minalS and switches along the water front
There would he great difficulties. \ revolutionary
amount Of bonded indebtedness would lac necessary.
under a charter power. AS terminals would I've
limited in usefulness without Il bridge. the effort
would he confronted with haG serious problem. Then
for complete working utility Il belt line would Ice de
manded.
But it seems unreasonable that private capital
should contemplate confidently th" construction aud
operation OF a work which great city avoids because
of expense.
No function calls more loudly for public ownership
than traffic terminals. Every great commercial c"l-
ter should lis railroad terminals and should have
its municipal belt line for uuiup"dcd freight con
nectnns.
Cities the water usually control. and rent q"
private owners the wharf aud harbor privileges Yet
in American cities The railway terminals Of great
er Importance and abandoned I" private monopoly.
1t seems nothing short Of ridiculous that traffic
center the facilities Of which the convenience of
millions of people in the surrounding country depends.
should Ice compelled stand tied. idly watching one
railroads monopoly year after preventing the en-
trance of other railroads.
For the sake of its business. ana for the sake
of dozen States with which it carries trade. ST
Louis should. As municipality. own Mill Creek Val
ley. the natural path for railway tracks.
Possibly the time has forever passed when MIL
Greek Valley could he placed under public ownership
but if the city could have taken possession fifty
ago offering privileges imparialy all railroads de
string 10 enter from the West. the commerce Of the
city would have been enormously increased and the
revenue might have produced enough for Il great num-
her of the Improvements for which the people have
been camoring.
If the municipality had during that same period Of
fifty years controlled bridge the Mississippi.
trackage along the front and belt line il could
have been master of the traffic situation. With
switching facilities for factories and wholesale houses
and with stations for passenger business revenue
would. doubt. 10y this time have reached 4 yearly
amount sufficient all the troubles Of muni
cipIl poverty.
Municipal revenue would he however. but Il sec
Dndary consideration The main point would he that
every railroad seeking St Louis business could get
Dn equal terms with all other railroads Terminal
costs and freight transfers could be reduced Il
lowest cost and least resistance. As
suming other cities in their present situation. ST
Louis could offer superior inducements 10 every class
Of industry and trade The effect would be draw
here immense additional volume of manufacturing
and trading.
The city is debating the delivery to private
of the only great traffic way left-a traffic
way absolutely needed 10y existing business ON
account of the congestion of Mill Greek Valley The
direct consideration for the franchise offered the
municipality is almost nothing. 1t may turn out that
no better bargain could be made. Certainly in some
manner and the river front should
be put under use for terminal and switch purposes.
But it does that the great possibilities of public
should be broadly and deeply discussed !
before that remaining great traffic way is
iered for hafcentury-a half-century meaning for
ever since such property would. in all likelihood
become in fifty years valuable for municipality
means of purchase. The obstacles are many. of |
cOurse; the undertaking stupendous. But the
public ends 10 be gained also enormous. Before |
he chance is thrown away every side feasibility
should be examined.
ON the lips of cheap politicians public ownership |
5 nothing but phrase. In the minds of practical |
Americans il should be business question Public |
ownership is wise in the matter of waterworkS. II |
would be wise in the matter of lighting. II would
le wisest of all in the of traffic facilities \
'ty may make favorable waterworks contract: il |
nay make good lighting contract: but it cannot |
protect its commercial health when few railroads
wn the terminals and either keep other roads
n force Instantaneous terms. city should he the
bSOlute and only director of the physical
commerce into its limits
-sAs-