Evening star., 1909-05-02

come a law at the present session, al
though it is possible that it may pass the
house of commons. If 1t should pass IL
will bring under the supervision of the
government all of the transportation lines
in the United Kingdom There Is very
little railway regulation in England now,
although the board Of trade has author-
ity to enforce certain laws that have been
passed from time to time. No mergers
are possible without the consent of par
lament. 1t is not possible for any man
or syndicate to buy up the control or a
railway line and combine 1t with another
1t is first necessary to obtain the amend
ment OF the charters of both corpora
ions authorizing such consolidation,
and the pending bill is the first attempt
of the kind that has ever been made. Ii
is believed. however, that lhIS IS only
the beginning of a general combination
of competing interests for the sake of
economy and larger dividends. These
consultations are being anticipated by
the formation of pools and traffic ar
rangements which have hitherto been un-
known and have been stubbornly opposed
hy railway managers in the United King
om.
Railway management over there Is very
different from what ii Is in the United
States which Is due chiefly to the fact
that distances are so much shorter and
the requirements are much greater
than they are in this country. The rail-
way system of the United Kingdom IN
cludes 23,O65 miles of road. representing
a capital of S27SD0 per mile and an in
vestment OF more than six billions of dol
lars.
Ending "Cut Throat Competition"
The percentage of operating expenses
has been gradually creeping up yeaas Y
year because of the demands Of the pub
lie and what was described in the de-
bate at "cut-throat competition" for
business.
For example, last summer fifty-seven
trains left London for Manchester by
three competing railways every day.
Fifty-four trains left Manchester Tor Lon
don. Thirtytwo trains left London for
Glasgow and Edinburgh daily by three
competing routes, and the same numDer
made the return journey. Every time one
railway put ON a new train the other two
competing lines felt it necessary to do
the same but under a pool that was
formed last winter more than half OF
these trains were taken off. each OF the
three roads arranging the hours of de-
parture that the public has nothing to
complain of. There is still train leav-
ing London for the points named every
hour. but if a passenger wants TO leave at
9 o'clock in the morning he has to go by
one road; if he wants to leave at 10
o'clock he must go by another.
These new traffic arrangements Will re-
suit In a considerable saving in the ex-
pense of operation TO all of the roads,
without depriving the public of the con-
veniences and luxurieS of travel they
have enjoyed under the spirited competi-
ton. 1t 81 now proposed to go still far
ther and issue Interchangeable tickets at
the same rates that are now charged and
let passengers have the option of travel
ing by any line or train that suits them
best, and thus save the enormous sums OF
money that have been expended in adver-
tising and other means of securing busf-
ness. This sort of an alliance can be ar
ranged and operated without permission
of parliament, and it is considered the
first step toward a general amalgamation.
are all in the same predicament. have
gotten together and have also decided to
stop the expensive rivalries that have pre-
vailed in the past in speed In luxurious
appoin tmentS. in unnecessary service. In
advertising and costly printed matter and
in the employment of agents and solicitors
to work up business for large salaries and
commissions.
Development Of Traffic.
A period of great commercial and in
dustriaI prosperity. extending over eight
or nine years closed without bringing
the transportation companies that share
of the benefits to which they considered
themselves entitled. Traffic has devel-
oped enormously. Additional facilities
and conveniences had to be provided
which have absorbed all the additional
earnings without increasing dividends or
surplus reserves. During the last ten
years the railway equipment of Great
Britain has been increased 81 per cent,