The Washington herald., 1908-06-14

In Switzerland government ownership
OF public utilities Is general Most of the
railways and all of the telegraph and
telephone service are owned and operated
BY the federal government. In addition
10 these is the parcels post. which pro-
vides facilities for transporting all classes
Of articles within reasonable weight at a
nominal cost.
The government ownership Of railways,
although not complete. will soon cover
the entire system Of the country. The
steam railways in Switzerland represent
2,ll1 miles Of which l.529 miles. or near
ly three-foErths of the total. are owned
and operated by the government. The
state properties include all the principal
lines in the confederation, except the st.
Gotthard. which is the direct route from
Lucerne to Milan, by way Of Lakes Lu-
Bano. Locarno, and Como.
Arrangements are being made TO add
this important link TO the chain of gov
ernment properties, but concessions hav-
ing been made to Italy and Germany
tiation Of treaties for the release Of
those concessions has delayed the acquisi
ton Of the property by the Swiss gov
ernment. The other roads under private
or corporate ownership are short lines,
used as branches or feeders for the main
system, extending into important agri-
cultural valleys or industrial districts.
Since the acquisition of the majority
Of the railways by the government the
roads have been greatly improved i'm their
physical condition and IN the service.
Schedules have been adjusted and system
atized. freight and passenger rates equal
lied and greatly reduced
Operation of the system.
Consul r. E. Mansfield, writing from
Lucerne, furnishes the following descrip-
tion Of the operation Of Swiss railways:
The train service in Switzerland IS gen
orally good a sufficient number of trains
Is run on all the roads TO provide ample
facilities for all demands of traffic The
schedules are well arranged and trains
usually run on time. The employees are
universally polite and attentive 10 pas
sengers. and a strict enforcement Of the
rules governing the roads is observed
The system OF forwarding luggage, which,
control is prompt and safe. OF the hun
dreds OF thousands OF pieces transported
annually few are missent and almost
none are lost
Provisions are made for first, second
and third class passengers. and the ma
jOrity Of trains carry cars for all the diff
ferent classes. Some Of the express
trains carry only first and second, and
some of the through trains only first
class cars. The second-class cars are the
most popular on Swiss trains. as they
are quite as comfortable as the first
class. the only difference being in the
quality Of the upholstering.
The majority of the Swiss people pat
ronize the third-class coaches, as the
fares are low and the cars comfortable
The Swiss passenger coaches are divided
into compartments. and the more modern
in the first and second class are corridor
cars. They are well lighted. ventilated.
and heated. and provided with lavatories
and toilet rooms.
The express trains carry dining cars.
in all of which there is good service at
reasonable cost. This service is also
under government control The third
class cars are usually divided into two
sections instead of compartments, with
a center aisle. The seats are not up
holstered, but each car is provided with
ample space for luggage. good heating
facilities. and a lavatory.
Cost of Passenger Travel.
Passenger rates on the Swiss railways
are not excessively high in the first
class. while the second is reasonable.
and the third-class low. The hrst-class
fare is 3.22 cents per mile; the second
225 cents per mile. while the maximum
rate for third-Class is only L6 cents per
mile.
In addition 10 the regular tickets the
railways in Switzerland have a system
Of announcements or time tickets which
afford opportunities for exceedingly cheap
travel throughout all parts of the coun-
try. They are issued in the name and
must have attached a photograph Of the
purchaser. They are good on practically
all the roads in the confederation. mar
being attached TO each ticket showing
the lines over which il will be accepted
The Announcements are issued for desig-
mated period with no restrictions for the
amount of travel during the time.
on regular return trip tickets the re-
ductiOu is equal 10 32 per cent.
During the year 1906, the latest avail
able railway statistics. there were run
over the government railways in Switzer-
land 1881 regular passenger trains
mixed trains carrying passengers anc
freight, 46 623; extra or special passenger
trains. 1916; freight trains, regular anC
supplemental, l5i,9Sl
The number OF passengers carried in 1906
was 6l.S74,1O9. who paid in fares N351.-
9l3. The amount paid for transporta-
ton Of luggage. general freight. and
cargo of all kinds. was $lS.226.0l2. making
a total income from government railways
for the year 1906 of $3l. 1871 925.
Accidents Comparatively Few.
OF the many million passengers carried
during the year and the great number OF
employees in all the Departments of the
government railways, the accidents num-
bered only 1.2S2; 50 passengers were kill
ed. and l.1S injured
Practically all the railway cars. both
passenger and freight as well as loco
motives, switches. signals, and other
equipment necessary 90 the operation OF
the roads in Switzerland. are built at the
government shops at Winterthur. The
supply and equipment department is un-
der the some direction as the roads.
Railways constitute a department OF
the government. The management and
direction is I'm the hands of a commission
consisting Of five members. which is an.
pointed by the federal council for a term
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