The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-06-21
Canada's Project of Building a
TranScOntinental Railroad ArOuSeS
Timely and Interesting Discus
sion,

By FREDERICK UPHAM ADAMS.
Copyright, 1908, by Frederick Upham
Adams.
THE dispatches from Ottawa" re-
marked Judge Sawyer, 'seem to in
dictate that the Canadian government
is seriously considering the PROPOSE
ton of constructing railroad line
from the Atlantic to the Pacific
Ocean,"
Yes, I read something about it in
one of the magazines" observed Col.
Monroe MY newspaper has been so
crowded with accounts of highly in
teresting murders and society scandals
that this item of Canadian news has
not yet been mentioned"
Come to think of it, / saw it in a
Canadian paper" reflected the judge.
There seems to be an overwhelming
public sentiment in that country in ia
Vor of the scheme. l am surprised
that so radical a step should receive
such strong and respectable support"
1--WE are the only conservative peo-
pie now existing on the face of the
globe-unless an exception be made in
favor of the Chinese-and l am be-
ginning to have my doubts about the
Celestials," said the Colonel, soberly.
1--WE are not even spectators of the
great projects and experiments which
are under way or in operation in other
countries. We are not even informed
concerning them. 1 don't suppose one
American citizen out of a hundred
knows or cares that the Canadian gov
eminent has for years owned and
operated thousands of miles of rail-
way. and that it has been the fixed
policy of that government to extend
it's tracks across the continent at the
earliest possible opportunity. The
present Parliament may or may not
authorize this work, but it will be done
when the proper time arrives. You
see Judge, the Canadian people are not
aware that the government ownership
of railroads is a failure. We are the
only ones in the world who have dis
covered that great secret.
1--WE are the greatest people in the
world, all right" declared Postmaster
Jenkins, and we have the greatest
railroads in the world"
You are certainly in a position to
make such statement" said Col. Mon
roe, who reflected that not since the
Centennial Exposition had jenkins
been fifty miles from Lincolnville. 1--WE
should aim to live up to your claim,
but for one, am willing to admit that
other nations show occasional evidences
of desire to progress. What do you
think of that Canadian proposition,
judge?"
LAS you know, 1 am opposed on prin-
ciple to the government ownership of
anything that can properly be conduct
ed by private enterprise declared
Judge Sawyer. THAT is part of my po-
litica1 religion. 1 hold that the gov
eminent should interfere as little as
possible with those activities which
have been developed by individuals.
Believing this, am naturally opposed
to the proposition that our government
enter into the railroad business, or any
other enterprise now controlled by pri-
Vate interests
You are entitled to such belief, and
are in good company observed Col.
Monroe. ut is a very old and a very
respectable doctrine, though some as
cribe its discovery to Thomas Jefferson
In the last half century there has been
formulated another theory which has
many honest and earnest followers,
who hold that the government should
own everything that cannot properly be
managed by individuals. Personally,
do not subscribe to either of the doc
trines. 1t seems to me that civilization
is the result of taking advantage OF
eXperimen Our Constitution was
compromise between several theories
and a lot of hard and stubborn facts.
And we have been experimenting with
it ever since it was signed. Now, you
will admit that there are some things
which a government should own and
operate?'
Certainly I WILL" admitted Judge
Sawyer.
What, for instance?"
Il have no complaint to make against
what our government now owns and
operates" the judge said, after
pause. I'm my opinion it is well that
the postoffice, the signal service. the
agricultural department and similar in
situations should be under the control
of the nation. Education should be
fostered by the nation, states munich
pality or district 1t has been demon
strated that these services can best De
so conducted"
But suppose it became apparent mat
the public administration of any one
of these was a failure?'' asked Col.
Monroe. Suppose. for instance, that
France or England abandoned control
of the postal service and by contract