The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1906-09-15
GOVERNMENT OWNERSHIP.
Boston Post.

In the case of the railroads. a
scheme of public ownership is neither
radical nor impractical. Such a sys.
tenn has been adopted widely. almost
universally, in continental Europe to
the exclusion of private ownership. 1t
is approved by the experience of the
great commercial empire of Germany
and by the Scandinavian States. No
one can intelligently condemn govern
ment ownership of railroads as un-
practical; the facts Of it's practicable
ity are conclusive on this point.
Why should the idea cause a shock
to Americans? Simply because it is
an unexpected novelty. 1t is a prop
osition to extend a recognized princi-
pie into field hitherto unexplored.
The principle itself is as old as the
community 1t is fundamental in our
system that the highways belong to
the people, for the accommodation
and use of all the people, not to a few
OF the people for private gain. This
principle has been slwly developed I'M
der changing conditions. Turnpike
roads, with toll-gates at intervals
common enough everywhere a gener-
alton ao-have been abolished. Bridges
have been made free. The people in
this collective capacity have assum
ed the ownership and control of the
facilities of movement and transpor-
tation which used to be appropriated
by individuals, and later by corpora
tons exacting tribute from the public
Today the railroads are the high
ways of travel and of commerce. They
have taken the place of turnpike and
post road. They have exterminated
the coach and to great extent the
steamboat. The Mississippi River,
fifty years ago the great artery of cir
culation of trade and passenger trot
fic with the Southwest, waterway
crowded with swift and sumptuous
craft, is today little more than ditch
bCSduoS Va 40 PSifOoAN
overaows. The railroads have re-
tired forever the Mississippi steam
boats, as surely as they have retired
the prairie schooners" in which trans
portation was formerly carried on
acress the Western plains and the
Rockies to far California.
Over the highways the public holds
control. 1t provides the roads and
maintains them at the expense of ALL
free to all. The state builds canals;
the State of Massachusetts not so
very long ago bored a tunnel through
mountains to open a pathway west
ward for one of our railroads; the
| United States today Is digging canal
across the Isthmus of Panama for the
shipping of the world; every water
way in the land is subject to the reg.
| ulation of authority at Washington to
keep 1t clear and free from obstruc.
ton.
| 1t is a radical innovation in prac-
tice SO broadly comprehensive. to de-
| clare that the new highway, the rail
road. shall share the development OF
its predecessors and come in under
the same control of the government
of the people whom it serves? Is 1t
not necessary that this shall come?
The belief which Mr.. Bryan declares
he personally holds is neither unprac-
teal nor radical. The only question
Ia as to the present expediency OF
the advance which he proposes. In
this, many considerations are involv,
ed. The problem is one that cannot
be rushed to solution. But the prin-
ciple is sound; 1t, Is fundamental in
our system