The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1922-08-15
NE6Al#IAhN
CANADA'S NATIONAL RAILROADS

Some interesting information on the status of the Ca
madam railways is gathered from the columns of the
Guelph Evening Mercury one of the representative On
aro newspapers whose editorial views to be accepted
as unbiased and a fair presentation of any subject
discussed Local arguments have been heard both pro
and con, regarding the operation of the Canadian roads,
there being general impression that all the larger lines
of railway in the Dominion owned and operated by
the government of Canada That is an error there is
one exception, notable one at that the Canadian Pa
cihc enc of the famous railroad systems of the world
But the Dominion government does own and operate
several great systems, the Canadian Northern, trans
continental railroad running between Montreal and Van
ccuver, the Grand Trunk System which covers wide
territory throughout the provinces Of Ontario and Quebec
and the Inercolonia from Montreal to Halifax.
The ntercconal is an old road, built by the govern
ment years ago but the others recent acquisitions, the
Canadian Northern having been built by the government
and the Grand Trunk taken later. The whole
system now makes Canadas publicly -owned system of
railways the greatest connected system in the world so
far as mileage is concerned Furthermore. it the larg
est system in the world undo management and W.
doubtedy the most ambitious attempt of any people to
show that public ownership and operation of a great
profitable. The Mercury admits that so far as Canada
is concerned the experiment Is trial. And it goes
on to say: The statesmen Of the nation state that it
will get fair trial 1t viii have TO, for it would mean
the political extinction G. any politician statesman,
he the greatest in the % ignore public opinion at
this time in the matter OF public ownership. The pres
ent disturbances in the United States the operation
of the railways shows that private ownership not ideal
any more than would agree 10 public ownership be-
ing ideal.
The public will watch the National Railways with
a jealous eye They will not tolerate any plan that will
make it the playhing politicians nor allow it to be
oyermanned to find positions for political henchmen The
public it run a business venture and want the
best available to operate it.
Invdicus contrasts are often drawn between private
management ard public management of railways to the
disparagemen of the latter If such contrasts are moi
prompted by sefnterest, they are at least unfair and
the full revelation of the character and motives of those
who persist in making them may well be left to lapse
of time.
1T is worth while, however, at present to say that, so
far Canada is concerned we are not in possession of
the information necessary to the formation of valid and
trustworthy opinion. Our first national railway con
sructed and operated by the community of Canada as
a whole, the Intercoonal, which is now consoidat-
ed with the Canadian Northern and Grand Trunk lines
TO make up the Canadian National System. The Inter
colonial its suggests, built 10 hasten the
process of consolidating the first four provinces of Canada
into one united Dominion. Parts of the Canadian Pacific
built government public works in the west but
those parts consolidated with the Canadian Pa
ci6c The Canadian Northern and the Grand Trunk
having failed private enterprises have been taken over
by the government be operated as ore national system
For many purposes the Grand Trunk, the Inter-
colonial and the Canadian Northern have been working
as system for than year. Laboring under
great disadvantages. this system has earned enough to
materially reduce its deficit due to working expenses and
if it does this now it may under good management be-
of reducing the public debt it formerly
helped to accumulate Up to the present. at any rate
there not observable any quarter any growing opinion
in favor of handing the railways private owner
ship or even management"