Government Ownership of Railways by Samuel Dunn Hard Cover 1914 400 pages Indexe

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PREFACE

In an earlier book entitled " The American Transportation Question," the author has discussed the railway problem of the United States as it presents itself if it be assumed that the policy of private ownership of railways is to be maintained. The present work has two purposes. One is to give information as to the comparative results of private and public ownership and management of railways in various leading and typical countries. Its other, and main, purpose is to try to direct serious consideration to the question of what - in view of the experience of other countries with state ownership and management, and of the conditions existing in the United States-would probably be the results of the adoption of government ownership and management of railways in this country.

The subject of government ownership of railways is not without timeliness in the United States. In a way, it is always timely for it is always the subject of more or less discussion. And, if private management and public regulation of railways in this country should ever be decided to be a failure, government ownership would be the .only alternative; and never were private management and public regulation more distinctly on trial than they are at present. Furthermore, Congress, at the time this book is being finished, is considering a plan for the construction by the federal government of over 700 miles of railways in Alaska at an estimated cost of $35,000,000 to $50,000,000. In the state of public opinion only a few years ago such a plan would not have been seriously discussed ; and the fact that its adoption now appears not at all improbable shows how the attitude of many public men and of a large part of the public toward the extension of government functions has changed.

In respect of importance the question of government ownership of railways is hardly surpassed by any other that seems likely ever to be presented to the American democracy for settlement.

The author can express hut inadequately the debt of gratitude that ho owes to a number of persons who have aided him by furnishing valuable information and making constructive criticisms and suggestions. One of those to whom ho is most indebted is Mr. W. J. Cunningham, Assistant Professor of Transportation in Harvard University, who kindly read most of the manuscript. Mr. Cunningham has a practical understanding of railway operation in the United States which has been gained in active railway service; be is very familiar with the literature of transportation he has traveled extensively on the railways of both this country and Europe; he has a natural tendency to be judicial and fair; and be was, therefore, able to offer many criticisms and suggestions that were very valuable.

Acknowledgment must also be made to the Bureau of Railway Economics of Washington, D. C.; and especially to its Director, Mr. Logan G. McPherson; its Chief Statistician, Professor F. H. Dixon; and its Statistician, Mr. J. II. Parmelee, for many kind and valuable services that have been freely rendered by them. Mr. McPherson and Dr. Dixon are very familiar with transportation affairs in this country; both have traveled widely on European railways, the former being the author of "Transportation in Europe," an authoritative work on its subject; and they are both economists of prominence; while Dr. Dixon and Mr. Parmelee aro statisticians of recognized standing. All of these gentlemen have read parts of the manuscript and offered criticisms and suggestions. The Bureau also furnished the statistics regarding accidents on foreign railways which appear in Chapter XI and in Appendix B; and material appearing in its various publications has been liberally used.

In justice to all these persons it should be added, however, that they arc in no way responsible for any of the statements of fact made or the conclusions reached in the following pages.

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