The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-06-02
Run Al Profit | By Government
Canada's Own Railroad Comes Out With Surplus of $272,-
 712 For Year
WHAT THE LINE HAS DONE
Rapid Transition From a Losing tc
 Paying Basis Causes Joy to Nation.

Canada's entirely Dominion owned railway. the Intercolonial, having this year an assured surplus of s272, TIP, has established the fact that this line can be run successfully under government ownership and control.
 As early as 1866 this possibility was secuted by writers of Canadian af- fairs, and 1t has been doubted more or less ever since by many Canadians, especially the parliamentary opposi- tion of each regime. This latter set of doubters always held out the hope, however, that when "their party came into power'' that constant deficit of the 1ntercolonial would certainly be reversed and the balance be set on the right side of the accounts. But this remained an unfulilled hope un- til two years ago. Last year sur plus was reported, but 1t was so grudgingly accepted by the opposition that the country had it's doubts as to the actuality of the accomplish ment
 This year, however, it must be con- l ceded, as the surplus Is too consider able to be vanquished by appeals to different types of bookkeeping The total income was s9,se3, ,7s3 From this was deducted $6o0,O0 for equipment account, $25,0O0 for revenue account on equipment and a. serious fire loss during the year necessitated an extra outlay of s76,0O0. A new expenditure of s5,000 per month was also undertaken on a fire account in addition to general operating expendi- lures, but the surplus remained and is proof that new methods of adminis- trating the roads affairs were more correct than previous ones. Compared with this Year, the record for the In- tercolonia1 two years ago shows a de- cided difference.
 In 1909 there was deficit of s7oo, coo and the question was raised and fully debated in the House of Com mons as to the advisability of hand ing over the line to one of the three big companies operating in the De- minion. This was voted down and confidence was expressed by both government and opposition members that the line could be made to pay If it were put under proper manage ment
 Shortly before this thei premier had appointed as minister of railways a man who was not a native of those provinces hitherto always represented by the holder of this position It was thought that the appointment of men ed to perpetuate and accentuate polit- ical influencing of the railroads af- fairs
 The line runs from Montreal to along the St. Lawrence river, in Que bee. then through New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, and 1t was designed to keep the traffic from the interior end from being under the control of pri- vate company which might charge ex- orbitant rates to the seaboard if no competition existed
 It was also said that the road was promised to New Brunswick and Nova Scotia as a help to their continued commercial prosperity If they entered into confederation, giving them entry to the markets of western Quebec and of Ontario through the port of Mon treal
 Just there probably the political en- tanglements began, and the appoint ment of a minister separated from all such possible influences from the prov inces concerned, now appears to have been a wise innovation Shortly after his appointment Mir Graham decided to put the road under the control of four commissioners who would be made responsible for the work and success of operation, and he also is looking toward further businesslike ar engagements for making the road thoroughly paying investment to the country
 The rapid transition from a losing to a paying basis is naturally a cause for qualification on the part of the gov ernment