Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1910-12-23
GOV. OWNERSHIP
OF THE RAILROADS

ETC., from Tying machine touring
the world, he would find that among
the most important questions agitat-
ing the public mind in this country
today is the Government ownership
of Railroads." 1t is the coming ques-
ton, and it's not going to be SO long
"a comm - as you may have inn
agined.
Every man who can read and who
ought to vote, if he reads. he should
read the late book by A. Van Wag-
enen, on Government Ownership of
Railways. 1t is an eye opener sure.
The book is published by G. p. Put
MANS Sons, New York.
We have only to look close around
our own doors to see that something
is rotten in Denmark, by the discrim-
ination in freight rates as made by
the road to the different towns along
its own main line. Take for example
Tazewell, Bluefield, Norton and Ora
ham. See what kind of a freight rate
these towns must pay compared with
the Norfolk and Westerns saint, pet
lamb, ram lamb-Roanoke. They
viii haul car load of merchandise.
of any kind, right through these
towns over to Roanoke, Lynchburg,
Richmond and Norfolk for % to so
per cent less than they will if they
have to drop il at either one Of the
towns mentioned. 1t came under the
observation of the writer two or three
years snice. a rather bitter pill it
was for it knocked the sale of 2 or 3
cars as thigh as kite" A rate by
the Southern road was named TO Bris-
tol on car of metal beds 80 p
cents per 100 pounds. The rate
named to Johnson City, by the same
road, (which town is but % miles
west of Bristol, } was % cents per
100 pounds; same kind of car load
from the same western city. The
same rate % cents also applied To
Greenville, Jonesboro and Morris
town. What excuse for such a differ
ence? None. Bristol happened to
have competing road, the others
hadn't, consequently had to suffer
Strange to say the Interstate Com
merce Commission offered no relief
whatever when appealed TO. Under
Government ownership, the rate
would be the asme to all these towns,
as it should be. Can't anyone see
how it blocks industry. In that in
stance two car loads were lost.
In Germany, under Government
ownership, the railroads can make
money for the government by hauling
goods 200 miles for II cents per 100
pounds. In England under private
ownership it cost times that for a
haul of about 100 miles. Missouri
river towns have to pay 10 cents per
90 pounds to ship their wheat to
Chicago, distance between 400 and
500 miles. The same roads turn right
around and haul the wheat from Chi
cago to New York, nearly 1000 miles
for II cents. Two cents cheaper and
500 miles farther. Two or three rea-
sons may be given why the Govern
m ent should own the railroads which
are convincing enough for any intel
ligent citizen. One is, that if panic
comes, the railroads cut off their
workingmen right and left. You
never hear of such thing where the
Government owns the roads. The men
work right on. Does Uncle Sam lay
anybody off in the mail service during
panic? Another reason: The Gov
eminent can float its bonds for cash
at, say, about 3 per cent in dividends
to get money-Individuals, to get
money have to pay 6 per cent. This
money to be used, say for building
new lines, better equipment, etc
Look at the millions of difference
there is between six per cent anC
three per cent. Who would have tn,
most money to build with, the Gov
ernent or the Individual? These, t,
say nothing of saving of life, tn
Government roads have the best o
steel cars for safety and every know
equipment to insure human life. Tn
der which would the country develo
the faster? Which would move tn,
crops easier? There would be no sucl
cry as went up in 1907, car shortage
can't move the products of the coun
try, no cars. The passenger depart
ment furnishes most interesting read
ing under Government ownership, S
much more travel at vastly lowe
rates, more comfort, more accommc
dations, ETC., than under privat
ownership. Nearly all civilized cour
tries have adopted Government owner
snip except England and the Unite
; States, and the u. S. is waking u
) and coming-father Abraham, comm
/ several million strong. T. F.