The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1909-01-29
By c. ARTHUR WILLIAMS.

When a new arrival in Australia an
nounces his intention Of making q
journey he is saluted by sort Of para.
phrase of Punchs advice to those
about to marry. Instead Of saying
"Don't" his friends all say Don't go
by rail"
My first experience with the Austria
liam government railway took place in
New South Wales. where the system is
in better working order than else
where, and it was journey from sgd
ney to Springwood, forty-seven miles
A freight train-they call them goods
trains in Australia-stuck in the tun-
mel ahead Of us, though 1t had left the
last station three-quarters of an hour
before we arrived. We had taken the
5:37 train and were due at 6:55. We
arrived at 7:5O, two hours and thirteen
minutes for the trip Of no greater dis
lance than Is traversed by thousands
of commuters every day from New
York. The line is double tracked all
the way up from Sydney, and ours
was through train. An American
road would hardly contain tunnel
grade so steep as to stall even the
heaviest Of freight trains, especially
on a suburban line with heavy pas,
senger traffic, and an American dis
patcher would hardly send out a
freight train drawn by a locomotive
which might not be able to pull it up
the grade directly ahead of fast pas
senger train.
The rate for first class tickets is
nearly 5 cents per mile, for second
class more than 8 cents. When
1 suggested travelling second class my
friends told me that l would be crazy
to do so, and when | tried 1t realized
that they were right. Yet, in spite Of
these high fares, the government much
Of the time fails to pay 3la per cent on
It's investment. 1t Is thrifty, though,
for first class passengers are entitled
to only 112 pounds Of baggage carried
free. while holders of regular second
class tickets pay excess on everything
over elSnty-lOcT POUNDS.
My business In Sydney ended on Sat
urday, and it would have been con-
venient to leave for Melbourne that
night. But this was impossible, since
there is no Saturday night train south
between the two cities and but one
train a day each way during the week.
AS the Saturday half holiday is gener-
ally observed throughout New South
Wales and Victoria, the traveller .bc
tween the capitals Of the two states
must lose that half day and all the
next because of the way In which the
government railway schedule IS ar
ranged. He can leave Sydney on Fri
day night, but will reach his destina-
ton too late for business on 81 turday
IF he takes the dilemma by the other
horn, he must lose the day and half
in Sydney, take the Sunday night train
and reach Melbourne about l o'clock
Monday afternoon. There is n Satur-
day train from Melbourne TO Sydney,
but none on Sunday. And bear in
mind that this service Is between the
two principal cities of Australia. each
with population Of more than half
million and only $40 miles apart.
The season was midwinter, being
early August, and there was no pro-
vision whatever for heating the sleep
ing car. In Australian sleeping cars
the men are herded off in one end Of
the car and the women in the other,
4, I'LL
Even man and wife cannot have
section. but are separated perhaps by
the entire length of the car. The
berth curtains fasten only ut the top,
and everybody who passes down the
narrow aisle pulls them along with
him, letting I'm the light and disturb
ing the occupant. 1t was midnight
when this sort of thing ceased and
sleep was possible. At @ in the morn
ing 1t commenced again. and a few
minutes after the curtains were pulled
entirely back and everybody was told
to get up. Before l was fully dressed
the train ran into the station at AL
bury. on the boundary between New
South Wales and Victoria. Those who
were not so nearly prepared for dis
as l was spoke and acted
as II they were not happy.
But why all this haste and pother?
Merely because the gauge Of the New
South Wales railway system is four
feet eight and q half inches and that
)f the Victoria roads is five feet three
inches and trains cannot be run
through; hence passengers are hauled
)ut Mt 6 o'clock of midwinter morn
ngs In an unheated car.
The breakfast I'm the restaurant was
he worst meal / ever ate In railway
station, which is strong language.
There Is but one dining car I'm the
whole of Australia.
II was rs cold I'm the Victoria train
Is 1t had been on the New South
Wales sleeper. II was smoking COM
,artment, this. and brass cones, sunk
)oint downward through holes I'm the
ioor Of the car had been provided by
| thrifty government to serve as GUS
,idors. The wind came through them
of course.
And all this on the crack train be- |
ween the two principal cities Of Aus
ralia!
The advocates Of public ownership |
nd government control are walking