[THE RELATION OF RAILROADS TO THE STATE.]
By W. M. Acworth, M. A.
Delivered before the British Association at Dublin, Ireland, September 2, 1908.
I propose to treat the subject in two aspects; first, the history in outline of the relations between railroads and the state in different countries, and, second, the question of the factors which are of primary importance in any consideration of the matter.
Ever since the year 1830, when the dramatic success of the Liverpool & Manchester Railway first revealed to a generation less accustomed than our own to revolutionary advances in material efficiency the startling improvements in transport that railroads were about to effect, theorists have discussed the question whether state or private ownership of railroads be in the abstract the more desirable. But it is safe to say that in no country has the practical question, "Shall the state own or not own the railroads?" been decided on abstract considerations. The dominant considerations have always been the historical, political and economic position of the particular country at the time when the question came up in concrete shape for decision.
BELGIUM.
The Belgian railroads have belonged to the state from the outset, because they were constructed just after Belgium separated from Holland, and (the available private capital being in Holland and not in Belgium) King Leopold and his Ministers felt that, if the railroads were in private hands, that would mean in Dutch hands, and the newly acquired independence of Belgium would be thereby jeopardized. Within the last few years this history has repeated itself, and the fact that the bulk of the Swiss railroad capital was held in France and Germany was one main reason, if not the main reason, which induced the Swiss people to nationalize their railroads.
GERMANY.
In Germany 70 years ago the smaller states were regarded as the personal property of their respective Sovereigns, almost as definitely as Sutherlandshire is the property of the Duke of Sutherland. And it was therefore as natural that the Dukes of Oldenburg or Mecklenburg should make railroads for the development of their estates as that the Duke of Sutherland should build a railroad in Sutherland.
AUSTRALASIA.