New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-05-04
EXHIBIT OPEN
MORTON AND TAFT SPEAK.
Secretary of Macy Praises Presi-
dents Rate POHcy.

Washington May 3-The American Railway APP.
plance Exhibition was formally opened at
to-day in the presence OF nearly thousand dele
gates to the international Railway Congress
Speeches were made bv Secretaries Taft and Nor
ton, George A. Post president Of the exhibition;
Commissioner Macfarland, T. L. Lawrence, deputy
chairman of the London and Northwestern Railway,
and Stuyvesaut Fish president of the American
section OF the congress
The foreign delegates spent the morning in sight
seeing. The exhibition occupies the government
reservation at the foot Of the Washington Monu-
ment and consists of nearly 400 separate exhibits,
housed in nearly a hundred pavilions The open
ing attended by the foreign delegates, many
members Of the diplomatic corps, Cabinet officers
and representatives of the army and navy. MI
Post. in calling the assemblage to order described
the exhibition and its purposes. George Westing-
house was made chairman of the exercises In his
address he predicted a new in railroading by
the substitution OF electricity for steam in moving
trains.
SECRETARY MORToN's ADDRESS.
Secretary Morton was heard next He spoke In
part follows:
When the microbe of civilization begins its end
less work in the brain of IL barbarian one of the
through the mountain or over the plain and as
civilization advances good roads and better trans
portaton become one OF the chief studies OF men
The present conference of delegates from all oyer
the transportation facilities Of the globe only indi-
Gates the growth of civilization ana demonstrates
concerning the best way to railroad. Such a meet
ing only be regarded with the greatest favor
by all intelligent people
The story of the transportation of this country
and OF the improvements in transportation facilities
geration 10 say that the prominent commercial posi-
ton OF the United States in the world to-day is
chiefly account of its low railroad rates. and it
is not at all out of the way for me to say that II
II not for American railway appliances the
cost of transportation in this country would not
to-day be as cheap as II is. 1t has been estimated
that where 81 has been invested in railroads in the
United states the value or agrlcuitural property
engine, with all the other railway appliances, have
peen pioneers IN the oeVetopneht OF TINS country.
There are three kinds of transportation-tran
tation of people transportation Of goods and the
transportation OF thought and in each 1t seems to
that have LED the world
The railroad freight in the United States
low. No other country has any such cheap carriage
Of goods. There are very few complaints of rates
in this country because they too high. Com
plants OF extortionate rates the exception not
the rule Rates are lower in the United states than
anywhere else in the world. They probably aggre-
gate 40 per cent lower This alone is something TO
be proud Of but, coupled with the fact that, with
the lowest rates in existence the wages paid by
American railroads TO their employees approximate
at least 80 per cent more than the wages raid to
railroad in other countries and considered fur
Their with the fact that the American railroads
probably pay higher prices for materials than any
other railroads in the world, only en-
phasize the triumph in transportation which has
It has been my observation that complaints of
unreasonable rates to railroad men always receive
prompt and satisfactory attention. While, in a
sense railroad transportation is a natural monop-
oily, in broader sc 1se 1t is all competitive Market
competition prevails everywhere and is always a
controlling force in ratemaking
1t Is a source OF great satisfaction to all OF to
have SO many distinguished foreigners here. We
IN regard 70 transportation know that are
the eagerness that they are studying ours
We hope that these international gatherings will
be fruitful Of great good TO the railroads abroad
and at home and am sure that tho result. p ba
in the long run cheaper safer and better carriage
the world