Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1905-05-30
AMERICAN RAILROADS ARE THE BEST
Foreign Railroad Officials Marvel at American
Transportation Triumhs
Delegates to International Railway Congress Say Freight
Rates Here Are Lowest in the World

New York, May 20, 1904 magnifi-
cent demonstration of THE effectiveness
and development of the railroad sys'
TENS of the United States ended to-
day, when about so foreign delegates
to the International Railway Congress,
who have been touring the country as
the guests of the American Railway
association arrived here from Boston.
Without exception the delegates ex.
pressed themselves as profoundly i'm.
pressed with the achievements OF
American enterprise in the building
and management of railroads and the
development of vast territories by
means of intelligent and farseeing
methods in the laying of the steel
rails which bring the producer and
consumer together, create markets.
and promote production at remote
points.
One of the subjects of special i'm.
portanee abroad which the foreigners
have been Investigating as of par.
ticular Interest during their journey,
is the building and management Of
branch roads, the Light railways,
as the English officials call them. It
was the general impression of the dele.
gates that this particular phase of rail
road industry, undertaken frequently
at a prospective loss of revenue, has
been the direct means OF building up
communities and creating important
industries.
Througlhout the trip, one Of the most
Interesting topics Of conversation
among Hhe delegates was tile current
agitation of the freight rate question.
1t was the consensus of opinion among
tine visiting officials, many of thom ane
managers of government railways,
that American railroad rates are the
lowest in the world and that inter.
ference in the problem Of rate-making
by the government would hardly be
desirable. The conclusions of their
deliberations present some points of
special interest to the public at this
time.
Tariffs should be based on com.
merciaa principles, > the congress un-
animously declared, taking in account
special conditions which bear conn
mercia1 relation to the services
rendered. With the reservation that
rates Shall be charged without arbi-
orary discrimination to all SINNERS
alike under like conditions, the max
ing OF rates should, as far as possible.
nave all the elasticity necessary to
permit the development Of the traffic
and to produce the greatest results tn
the public and to the railroads Them.
Selves" '~'
The discussion in course of the tour
elbcated several opinions OF interest
and as the delegates represent CONN.,
tries having various degrees Or ree,,la.
uon' from government ownership tn
comparative freedom from legislative
interference, their opinions are of
value.
Mr. Hugh McLachlin, secretary NJ
the railway department of Sidney New
South Wales, said: "All I can saw
about your system is that it resembles
ours very much in respect of the free.
dom which, yous enjoy. Everything
about your railways seems to have
been constructed with a view to civ.
ing the general public the greatest
possible comfort. Your machinery is
equal If not better, than our own. and
aiunough believe that the life of an
engine made in England is consider.
aoiy longer than an American buflt
1nacnlne' 1T is undoubtedly true that
the cost OF American material is lower
we lind in Australia conditions verv
similar to those existing in this cos,n.
Try and I have no doubt that over
your roads your machinery world
give as good results as the ones we
use. OF course, think that VOLT nae.
senger rates are a trife high hu~
pnen the traveller certainly gets O.
GOOD value for his money. Perhans T
am partial because We have been
travelling as guests of the American
halfway association in such sa1nptious
luxury that it Is impossible to dfsasso-
ciape luxury from American TRAVELLING
NOW as regards your freight rates
1ney are, believe, the lowest in the
world, and the public gets the beneat
on Chem, white the employees them.
SELVES appear to be well treated ana
are paid in many grades the hea,
wages existing. 1t is, of cm,raa
dimcult for an outsider who has seem
nothing OF American railroad ana
KNOWS nothing ofthe business practic-
es other than is gained by his short
visit, TO attempt to criticize American
? hrrf 49, t.