Project Gutenberg's Royal Railways with Uniform Rates, by Whately C. Arnold This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. Title: Royal Railways with Uniform Rates A proposal for amalgamation of Railways with the General Post Office and adoption of uniform fares and rates for any distance Author: Whately C. Arnold Release Date: October 6, 2016 [EBook #53222] Language: English Character set encoding: UTF-8 *** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ROYAL RAILWAYS WITH UNIFORM RATES *** Produced by MWS, Adrian Mastronardi, The Philatelic Digital Library Project at http://www.tpdlp.net and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) A RAILWAY REVOLUTION! ROYAL RAILWAYS FARES & RATES FOR ANY DISTANCE. LOCAL TRAINS ONE PENNY MAIN LINE ” ONE SHILLING SLOW GOODS average per ton 1s. 6d. FAST ” 10s. A business proposition for Shareholders and the Nation. Sixpence Nett. SIMPKIN, MARSHALL, HAMILTON, KENT & CO., LTD., LONDON } Image of the front cover ROYAL RAILWAYS with Uniform Rates by Whately C. Arnold, LL.B. Lond. A PROPOSAL for amalgamation of Railways with the General Post Office and adoption of uniform fares and rates for any distance. LONDON: SIMPKIN, MARSHALL, HAMILTON, KENT & CO., LTD 1914 Preface. This pamphlet has been printed and published with the assistance of friends who share my opinion that the scheme proposed will solve the railway problem—now at an acute stage. [1] [2] [3] [4] A rough outline of the Scheme has been submitted to Sir Charles Cameron, Bart. (on whose initiative sixpenny telegrams were adopted), and while reserving his opinion as to the advantages of State ownership and the difficulties of purchase, he has been good enough to write that this scheme is the boldest and best reasoned plea for the Nationalisation of Railways that he has come across. The scheme has also been submitted to, among others, Mr. Emil Davies, Chairman of the Railway Nationalisation Society, to Mr. L. G. Chiozza Money, M.P., and to Mr. Philip Snowden, M.P., all of whom have expressed their approval subject to the figures and estimates being correct. These figures and estimates are based on the Official Board of Trade returns for Railways of 1911 and 1912. I also had the temerity to submit my draft to Mr. W. M. Acworth, the well-known Railway expert, who very courteously gave me his views generally, although refraining from any detailed criticism. I deal with his remarks at the end of Chapter IV., but may here mention that Mr. Acworth called my attention to an article by himself on Railways in “Palgrave’s Encyclopædia of Political Economy” published in 1899. In such article he referred to a suggestion which had then been made for uniform fares on the Postal system, and he dismissed the idea in a sentence as impracticable, because no one would pay for a short journey as much as 8d., then the average fare for the whole country. It is therefore evident that the principle of a flat rate is not novel; yet I can find no reference in any books or pamphlets on railways to any practical scheme for carrying it into effect. Apparently it has been assumed that there can be only one uniform rate, equivalent to the average rate, and that therefore the proposal is quite impossible. The simple expedient of dividing the traffic into the two kinds of “Fast” and “Slow,” on the analogy of the Postal rate of one penny for letters and sixpence for telegrams, overcomes this difficulty. The scheme is in effect an extension to the Railway System of the principle upon which the existing Postal System is founded, and therefore involves Nationalisation. As submitted to the above-named gentlemen, the draft did not include my remarks on the principles which in my opinion should govern all National and Municipal Trading, and which are now contained in Chapter IV. The attention of both opponents and advocates of Nationalisation is particularly called to these principles, which I have not found elsewhere, but which as laid down are believed to be absolutely sound, and of the highest importance, as removing most, if not all, of the objections of opponents, while retaining all the advantages claimed by advocates of National and Municipal Trading. I do not pretend to be a railway expert, and have only been able to devote the small leisure time available from an exacting business to putting into writing the thoughts which have exercised my mind for many years past. But the well- known expert, Mr. Edwin A. Pratt, who is a strong opponent of Railway Nationalisation, admits in one of his books that “the greatest advances made by the Post Office have been due to the persistence of outside and far-seeing reformers, rather than to the Postal Officials themselves.” This admission and the conviction that the further advance now proposed is based upon sound principles and undisputed facts, encourages me to submit my scheme with confidence to the consideration of experts and the public. W. C. A. 37, Norfolk Street, Strand, London, W.C. December, 1913. SYNOPSIS OF CONTENTS PROPOSED UNIFORM FARES AND RATES: Passenger Fares: Any Distance, so far as train travels. Main Lines: First Class 5/-, Third Class 1/-. Local Lines: ” 6d. ” 1d. Goods Rates: Any Distance. Fast Service: Average 10/- per ton. Slow Service: ” 1/6 ” Introduction. Page 15. The Royal Mail.—Letters carried for same price any distance. Why not passengers and goods? Object of pamphlet to prove that this is financially possible with small uniform fares and rates mentioned. A Business Proposition for Nation and Shareholders. Chapter I. The Scheme. Page 17. All Railways to be purchased by State and amalgamated with General Post Office. Trains of two kinds only, viz.:— (1) Main Line Trains, i.e., non-stop for at least 30 miles. [5] [6] [7] (2) Local Trains, i.e., all trains other than Main Line. Passenger tickets vary according to above fares only—no reference to stations or distance. Goods rates, payable by stamps vary only according to weight or size of goods, whether carried in bulk, in open or closed trucks, or with special packing, but irrespective of any other difference in nature or value of goods, or of distance, as now with parcel post. All Railway Stations to be Post Offices. All Post Offices to sell Railway Tickets, and, where required, to be Railway Receiving Offices. Steamers to be regarded as trains. Chapter II. Advantages of Scheme. Page 20. 1. Cheapness and regularity of transport. 2. Economy of service;—by unification of railways;—abolition of Railway Clearing House, of expenses of varying rates and fares, of multiplication of receiving offices, stations, &c.,—and by amalgamation with Post Office;—all railway land and buildings available for Government purposes—Postal, Civil, Military and Naval. 3. Progressive increase always follows adoption of small uniform fares (e.g., in Post Office); hence progressive increase of revenue available for working expenses, purchase money, extensions, improvements, and adoption of new safety appliances. Chapter III. Principles of Scheme. Page 27. Present system founded on two principles, both mistaken and illogical, viz.:—(1) According to distance travelled. (2) According to “what the traffic will bear.” (1) Although cost of building 200 miles, and hauling train that distance is more than for two miles, yet because regular train service required for whole distance, say, A to Z and back, passing intermediate places, therefore cost of travelling from A to B, or to N, identical with A to Z. For goods, cost of loading and unloading twice only, whether sent from A to B, or A to Z. (2) Cost of hauling ton of coal exactly same as of bricks, sand, loaded van, in open truck, yet now different rates for each, according to “what the traffic will bear.” True principle advocated by Sir Rowland Hill in Penny Post—whole country suffers by neglect or expense of transport to distant parts, and gains by including small districts with same rates as populous parts. For a flat rate, three rules necessary. (a) Must not exceed lowest in use prior to adoption. (b) Increased traffic resulting must produce at least same net revenue. (c) Variations of rate to be according to speed, not distance. Hence: (a) 1d. now lowest fare, fixed for Local Lines. 1s. now lowest fare, (e.g., 2s. 6d. return London to Brighton) fixed for Main Lines. 1s. 6d. per ton fixed for goods train or slow service, as the present average for minerals, and allowing present lowest rate for goods in open trucks, rising to, say, 6d. per cwt. (10s. per ton) for small consignments, in covered trucks. 10s. per ton, now lowest “per passenger train” (e.g., 6d. per cwt. for returned empties) fixed for fast service. (b) The increased traffic dealt with under “Finance.” (c) The two rates suggested for fast and slow trains solve the difficulty hitherto felt of charging lowest fare of 1d. as uniform fare—the 1s. fare and 10s. goods rate being double the present averages. Chapter IV. OBJECTIONS TO THE SCHEME. 1.—State Ownership. Page 33. Writers for and against—All assume that on Nationalisation, system followed of charging according to distance, and to “what traffic will bear”—Fundamental differences between State Monopoly and Private Monopoly—Evils of applying profits of State monopolies in reductions of taxation—Strikes. Four rules to be observed on Nationalisation:— 1. Natural monopolies only to be taken over. [8] [9] 2. When taken over, only to be worked for benefit of community and not for profit. 3. Competition of private enterprises not to be prohibited. 4. Monopoly to be worked by Department of State responsible to Parliament. Chief grounds of objection to State ownership— (1) Difficulty of Government in dealing with conflicting interests of traders and general public. (2) Difficulty of Railway servants (being also voters) using political pressure to obtain better wages, against interests of traders and general public. Both of these objections removed if scheme (which avoids all preferential or differential rates or treatment) adopted with above four rules. Other grounds of objection, e.g., want of competition, officialism, &c., apply equally to present Company system, but may be remedied if owned by State. Suggested remedies:—Railway Council to deal with all matters of administration; Railway Courts to deal with questions of compensation, labour disputes, &c. Railways and Post Office being Department of State with Cabinet Minister at head subject to vote of censure in Parliament, provides better security for public than private Companies or Railway Trust. 2.—General Objections. Page 43. Fear of Losses— All existing staffs required for increased traffic—therefore no loss to them. Traders, like newspapers more than make up for any losses by economy in rates and fares and increased circulation. Mr. Acworth’s objections to “average” rates considered. Chapter V. Finance of Scheme. Page 45. Present averages per annum in round figures taken from Board of Trade returns 1911 and 1912:— Receipts from Passengers £45,000,000 ” ” Goods per passenger train 10,000,000 ” ” Goods Train Traffic 64,000,000 ” (Miscellaneous) 10,000,000 Gross Revenue £129,000,000 Working Expenses 81,000,000 Net Receipts £48,000,000 Total Paid-up Capital and Debentures £1,400,000,000 Net receipts show average income of 3½ per cent. Total passenger journeys (of which 10 per cent. were 1st and 2nd class) 1,620,000,000 Average fare for each journey only 6½d. Total tonnage of goods:— Estimate per passenger trains 20,000,000 Actual per goods trains 524,000,000 544,000,000 Average rates per goods train:— Minerals only 1s. 6d. per ton General Merchandise 6s. ” Both together 2s. 4d. ” Estimate under proposed scheme:— Page 48. I. Passengers.—Assuming Main Line passenger journeys are 300,000,000, i.e., under 20 per cent. of the total passenger journeys. 300,000,000 at 1s. = £15,000,000 add 30,000,000 at 4s. for 1st class = 6,000,000 1,320,000,000 at 1d. = 5,500,000 add 132,000,000 at 5d. for 1st class = 2,750,000 Present No. 1,620,000,000 will produce £29,250,000 Increased number of Main Line passengers required to make up deficiency:— [10] [11] 250,000,000 at 1s £12,500,000 add 25,000,000 at 4s. extra 5,000,000 £17,500,000 Estimated total £46,750,000 This is £1,750,000 more than the present gross revenue from passengers and requires an increase of 250,000,000 = 15 per cent. on the total present number of passenger journeys. II. Goods. Total tonnage by goods train as now, viz., 524,000,000, at 1s. 6d £39,300,000 Ditto per passenger train, 20,000,000 at 10s 10,000,000 Live Stock, as now 1,500,000 £50,800,000 Increased tonnage required to make up present revenue, 48,000,000 tons at 10s. 24,000,000 £74,800,000 which is £800,000 more than present total receipts from goods per passenger and goods trains, and requires an increase of under 10 per cent. in tonnage. Reasons for anticipating increase:— (a) Of Passengers. Long distance journeys now restricted by expense.—Through tickets now counted as one journey will, under new scheme, be sometimes two or three, e.g., London to Londonderry would be three tickets—Every single journey taken, usually means also return journey home. (b) Of Goods. Example of Post Office—Before Penny Post, average price per letter 7d., and letters carried 76,000,000. After Penny Post, first year number doubled; in twenty years, increased by eight times; about doubled every twenty years since. Before three letters per head of population, now 72 per head. Goods now sent by road motors will, with cheaper rates, go by rail—perishable articles, now not sent at all by fast train owing to expense, will be sent when rates cheaper. Chapter VI. Working Expenses. Page 53. If increase of traffic no more than above, increase of working expenses negligible, apart from economies made by unification. Expense of carrying 200 passengers no more than 20. If increase of traffic more, then revenue increases, but working expenses only by about 50 per cent., as expenses of permanent way, stations, signal boxes, and establishment charges but little affected. Expenses of Post Office and Railways to be lumped together. CHAPTER VII. Terms of Purchase. Page 56. Present total market price of all Railway Stock and shares about £1,350,000,000 Debentures and Loans ” 350,000,000 Total about £1,700,000,000 Estimate of annual sum required according to precedent of purchase of the East Indian Railway Company, namely, by annuities for 73 years, equal to 4¼ per cent. per annum on market value, plus liability for Loans and Debentures with interest at 3 per cent. 4¼ per cent. on £1,350,000,000 £57,375,000 3 ” ” 350,000,000 10,800,000 Total annual sum required for purchase £68,175,000 Revenue available as per above estimates:— Passengers £46,750,000 Goods 74,800,000 Miscellaneous, as now 10,000,000 £131,550,000 Less Working Expenses, with say, increase of £4,000,000 85,000,000 Net revenue available £46,550,000 [12] [13] Balance required for purchase £21,625,000 would be provided by following further increase of traffic, viz. 100,000,000 passengers at 1s. £5,000,000 10,000,000 ” ” 4s. 2,000,000 30,000,000 tons ” 10s. 15,000,000 £22,000,000 This further traffic brings total increase of traffic to:— 350,000,000 passengers = about 21 per cent. 78,000,000 tons of goods = about 15 per cent. Essential to purchase all Railways at same date—Railway Stock to be converted into Government Stock—Price to be fixed by average of market price of Stocks for three years prior to introduction of Bill. Chapter VIII. Conclusion. Page 62. Interested parties not prejudiced—Staff now employed in services to be discarded will be required for increased traffic—Facility of transport will increase trade, and open new markets, not only here but abroad—Foreign countries would adopt reform as they did Postal system—Advantages of inter-communication with Foreign Nations. ROYAL RAILWAYS with Uniform Rates. INTRODUCTION. The Royal Mail! What scenes and memories are conjured up by these words! In the olden days, the Royal Mail coaches—in these modern days, the well-known scarlet Mail carts and motor vans arriving at all the larger railway stations from which the mail trains, always the fastest, convey the mails to every quarter of the United Kingdom, and over the whole world. It is now a commonplace to post in the nearest pillar-box a batch of letters, some to addresses in the same town, others to provincial towns and villages, to Scotland, Ireland and far distant Colonies, each of them being conveyed to their destination, near or far, for the modest sum of one penny, by the speediest mode of locomotion that steam and electricity can provide. In order that travellers may have the advantage of that speed and regularity which is a feature of the Royal Mail, passengers and goods have always been carried by the Mail—formerly by the coach, now by the train. But whereas the mails are carried at the same price for any distance, the charges for passengers, and for goods which exceed the regulation size and weight permitted for the “Parcels Post,” vary according to the distance travelled, and as to goods also according to their nature or quality, with the result that for the greater part of our population long journeys are luxuries which can only be undertaken in cases of life and death, and not always then; the rates for carriage of goods by fast train are mostly prohibitive, and even by goods train for long distances are so great as to seriously restrict the traffic. If mail trains can carry mails, with parcels up to 7 lbs. in weight at the same price for any distance, why cannot all trains carry passengers and goods of any size and weight at the same price for any distance? The answer is that they can, and it is the object of this pamphlet to prove not only that it is possible financially, but that, with the small uniform fares and rates indicated on the title page, sufficient revenue can be obtained to pay working expenses, and provide the sum required to purchase the whole of the existing railway undertakings at their full market price, or such a price as willing vendors would be ready to accept. This, then, is “A Business Proposition” for all concerned; in other words, the magnificent net-work of railways in the United Kingdom, with all that is included in their undertakings, may be acquired by the nation at such a price as will make it worth the while of the present Companies and their shareholders to sell, and as the result to give the nation the benefit of speedy and efficient transport at the nominal fares and rates mentioned. It will, indeed, be a “Revolution,” but one of the most beneficial that can befall a nation. The Royal Mail is an institution of which the nation is justly proud. How much more will it be so of an institution which will include the Royal Mail, namely, Royal Railways. [14] [15] [16] [17] CHAPTER I. THE SCHEME. This is the scheme proposed:— The whole of the existing undertakings of all the Railway Companies in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland will be acquired by purchase on some such terms as are set out at the end of this pamphlet and vested in the Government. The whole system will be amalgamated with the General Post Office and form one of the Departments of State, of which the Postmaster-General for the time being will be the head, and probably adopt the style of “Minister of Transport,” who will be a Member of the Cabinet. It will be expressly enacted that any profit made by the combined services shall be used only for increasing their efficiency, for payment of purchase money, or in reduction of fares and rates charged for the services, and in no case for general revenue of the country. There shall also be no prohibition of competition by private enterprise.[1] All passenger trains will be regarded as consisting of two kinds, namely:— (1) Main Line Trains, by which will be meant express trains running on the Main trunk lines between, and only stopping at, important towns. A ticket for one shilling will entitle the holder to enter any Main Line train at any station, and to travel in it to any other station at which it stops, and a ticket for five shillings will entitle him to travel first class in such trains. (2) Local Trains, by which will be meant all trains, other than Main Line trains as defined above, including all Metropolitan, Suburban and Branch Line trains throughout the Kingdom, as well as trains on Main lines which stop at all stations. A ticket for one penny will entitle the holder to enter any Local train at any station, and to travel in it to any other station at which it stops, and a ticket for sixpence will entitle him to travel first class in such train if that accommodation is provided. Steamers which form part of the railway undertakings will also be regarded as of two kinds, according to whether they form part of a Main Line, e.g., the Irish Packets or the Cross Channel steamers, in which case admission to them will be 1s. or 5s., according to class, or simply as part of a Branch line, e.g., the Isle of Wight steamers, to which admission would be 1d. or 6d. according to class. In the case of Main Line trains and steamers, additional fixed charges (the same for any distance) will be made for the use of refreshment cars, sleeping cars, State cabins, reserved seats and any other special services. In the case of Local trains, and possibly Main Line trains, Season Tickets may be issued, in each case available for any Main Line train or Local train as the case may be. For Local trains the following rates are suggested, viz.:— 3rd class 1s. per week, 4s. per month, £2 per annum. 1st class 2s. 6d. ” 10s. ” £5 ” Passenger Tickets will not be issued to or from any particular stations, but like postage stamps will vary only according to the fares and special charges for the time being in force. The four denominations of 5s., 1s., 6d. and 1d. will, of course, be required, and 4s. and 5d. tickets could also be issued to make up the first class fares with the 1s. and 1d. tickets. These tickets will be sold not only at every railway station, but also at every Post Office and in automatic machines. Every railway station will be, or will contain, a Post Office, with all postal, telegraphic and telephonic facilities, and every Post Office will sell not only passenger tickets but also railway stamps for parcels, goods and live stock. Goods traffic will also consist of two services only, namely:— (1) Fast Service, corresponding with the present service “per passenger train,” the charge for which will be an average of ten shillings per ton for any distance. (2) Slow Service, corresponding with the present service “per goods train,” the charge for which will be an average of one shilling and sixpence per ton for any distance. For both these services stamps will be issued of various denominations, and applied in manner now in use for the Parcels Post, with any necessary modification; for instance, the stamps might be affixed to consignment notes in the case of goods in bulk, or other suitable arrangements might be made for large quantities of goods. For the slow goods traffic a regular service of goods trains will be organised so that at every town or village in the United Kingdom served by rail there may be at least one delivery and one collection daily, more populous places, of course, having more frequent services. For the fast goods traffic a similar regular service will be organised, and in cases where the traffic will warrant it special fast goods trains will be run; otherwise the goods will be carried by the passenger trains. In course of time provision should be made for all trunk lines to have at least two double lines of rails, upon one of which fast trains for passengers and goods will run at uniform speeds, and at regular intervals, and upon the other the local trains and slow goods trains, also at uniform speed and at regular intervals. [18] [19] The present complicated system of differential rates, which vary not only according to distance but also according to the nature, quality and value of goods, and involving different rates, amounting in number literally to millions, would be swept away, the only variations in rates being in respect of such obvious matters as weight, size, whether carried in bulk or in packages, in open trucks or closed, whether requiring special care or labour in packing or otherwise. The average rates proposed would, it is believed, admit of a uniform rate for any distance for minerals and other goods carried in bulk in open trucks, of no more than the lowest rate now in force, by charging higher rates for goods requiring closed trucks and more labour in handling, still higher rates for goods of abnormal size or weight, and higher rates still for single small parcels, on account of greater proportionate expense of handling. For the small single parcels the rate might be for slow service as much as 6d. for any weight up to 1cwt. (equal to 10s. per ton), and for fast service say 1s., or possibly more, for any weight up to 1cwt., the weight being graduated downwards for parcels of greater weight as are the rates now in force for letter and parcels post. The goods traffic would be in effect an extension of the present parcels post, the present rates for which would probably be capable of very substantial reduction. These figures are put forward by way of suggestion only, and the question of terminal charges and fees for loading and unloading may have to be taken into account. Numerous details must necessarily be gone into in fixing an average uniform rate, and it is very likely that considerable modifications may be found necessary. Any such modifications, however, must be based upon the three rules set out on page 30 in order that the scheme may effect its object. FOOTNOTES For reasons of these modifications of the present practice in National and Municipal Trading see Chapter IV., pp. 33-41. CHAPTER II. ADVANTAGES OF THE SCHEME. If this scheme is practicable financially (and one object of this pamphlet is to prove that this is so), then it seems almost superfluous to point out the great advantages of its adoption. It has been well said that “transport is the life-blood of a nation.” If circulation is impeded or restricted the whole country must suffer, and, conversely, if all obstructions and restrictions are removed the whole country must benefit. This scheme will, in effect, remove the principal obstruction to free circulation of passengers and goods, namely, expense. Cheapness of transport is “twice blessed; it blesseth him that gives and him that takes”—in other words, it enables the producer, whether agriculturist, manufacturer or merchant, to increase his market for goods, and enables the consumer who requires those goods to purchase at a lower price. It is common knowledge that agriculture in particular in this country is hampered and restricted by heavy charges for freight.[2] Under our present system the carriage of goods from abroad to London is cheaper than from the Midlands, and the foreigner has a great preference (so far as freight is concerned) over our own farmers. Fruit and fish is often thrown away on account of the cost of carriage being more than the value of the goods. On the other hand, the price of food and every commodity has been gradually increasing. With the removal of this obstruction of expense of carriage there must be an increase in the supply of goods, and increased supply means lower prices. As to passenger traffic, traders will appreciate the great benefit of nominal fares for themselves and their commercial travellers. So also will the greater part of the population, namely, those of very moderate means who are now prevented, solely on account of expense, from travelling any considerable distance, either on business or pleasure, or from visiting friends and relatives. These are some of the general advantages attending cheapness of transport, but it may be as well to point out in detail some of the very substantial economies and other special advantages to be obtained by adopting the proposed scheme. 1. ECONOMICAL ADVANTAGES. A few examples of the waste attending the present system, both of money and time will illustrate some of these advantages. In the Strand, London, within a few yards of each other, are the following premises:— No. 168, Strand.—The Strand Station of the Piccadilly and Finsbury Park Tube Railway. No. 170, Strand.—Great Western Railway Receiving Office. No. 173-4, Strand.—East Strand Post Office. No. 179, Strand.—Great Northern Railway Receiving Office. No. 4, Norfolk Street, Strand, almost adjoining No. 179, Strand.—Inland Revenue Office. [1] [20] [21] No. 183, Strand.—Midland Railway and London and North Western Railway Receiving Office. Within sight, at the other end of Norfolk Street, is the Temple Station District Railway, and at 6, Catherine Street, about the same distance from the other side of the Strand, is a Labour Exchange. It is assumed that the rents of shops in the Strand would average about £500 per annum. Under the proposed scheme, the whole of the business transacted at the above eight premises could, with greater convenience, be carried on at the two railway stations, possibly with some extensions, but with a saving not only of rent but also of rates, taxes and other outgoings. At Bexhill-on-Sea, with a population of only about 15,500, there are two large railway stations, one belonging to the South Eastern & Chatham Railway Company, the other to the London, Brighton & South Coast Railway Company, and situate about a mile apart. Half a mile from each is the Head Post Office, within a few doors from one of the stations is a branch Post Office, and within a small radius are Government offices for Inland Revenue and other purposes. Letters posted at a pillar box outside the station are collected there, taken to the Head Post Office for sorting, then returned with others to the railway for the Mail train leaving the same station. The majority of the passengers are for London, and go by the two different routes, but the fares are identical, and the time occupied is about the same, no advantage being gained by the public through the so-called competition. If both stations were amalgamated one staff only would be required, there would be ample room on the premises to accommodate the Head Post Office with sorting rooms, etc. (the branch office now near the station would not be required), and there would be plenty of room also for the Government Offices. In addition to the saving of expense, there would also be the great convenience and saving of time in the transport of, and dealing with, mails, passengers and goods. These two examples with many others have come under my personal observation, and they may be multiplied ten thousand times throughout the United Kingdom. Where is there a railway station, whether a great London terminus, or small provincial station, where postal facilities are available; while just outside rents are paid, in some cases very heavy ones, for other premises, to and from which the mails have to be conveyed? Other examples of waste under the present system, although not so apparent to the public, are well-known to the railway expert, and involve much greater expenditure of time and money. I refer in particular to the waste of rolling stock, especially of goods wagons, occasioned by the multiplicity of goods stations, the transfer of rolling stock to and from the lines of different railway companies, the shunting of trains, and the large number of road vans used by the various companies. In London alone there are 74 goods stations, used for goods only, and 700 goods trains per day travel between these 74 stations, doing nothing but transferring goods from one of these stations to another! Goods consigned to one warehouse in London from places on, say, seven different railway companies’ lines are sent by seven different vans, one belonging to each company. Under my proposed scheme one or two central goods stations of large area would not only suffice, but would provide a far more efficient and speedy transport service, and yet with the nominal rates referred to. Under the present system goods trains, having been unloaded, must be returned in order to clear the line, so that it is not uncommon to find goods trains belonging to the various companies returning empty for long distances on each line, on the G. W. R. as far as Bristol, on the S. W. R. to Basingstoke, on the G. C. R. to Banbury, and so on. It has been estimated that of the 1,400,000 goods wagons now on the railways of the United Kingdom, no more than 3 per cent. are actually in effective use at one time, the remaining 97 per cent. being either stationary or running empty![3] One reason for this, no doubt, is the use of merely hand labour for loading and unloading. With a view to avoiding this waste the New Transport Company, Limited was registered in 1908, for the purpose of introducing new and ingenious machinery, invented by Mr. A. W. Gattie and Mr. A. G. Seaman, for handling goods, including the adoption of movable “containers” on trucks and wagons, and a scheme for a “Goods Clearing House” occupying a site of about 30 acres, in Clerkenwell, to be connected by rail with all the lines coming to London. It is, of course, necessary, in order to carry so important a scheme into effect to negotiate with all the various railway companies interested, as well as to obtain an Act of Parliament. Besides this, a large amount of capital is required for the acquisition of the site, the construction of the connecting lines, installation of the machinery, etc. Notwithstanding the large cost, estimated by Mr. Edgar Harper, F.S.S., late Statistical Officer of the London County Council, at £14,000,000, he shows that such a system would more than pay for itself in a year by the economies in transport which it would effect directly or indirectly. No estimate, however, is given, nor probably can be given by anyone, of the time that will be occupied in carrying such a scheme into effect, so long as this present system of numerous companies and conflicting interests continues. Five years have already gone by since the Company was registered. If, however, the scheme of nationalisation and amalgamation with the Post Office be adopted, there should be no difficulty in providing as part of such scheme for the system and machinery of the New Transport Company already referred to, not only in London but in every other traffic centre. It might also be possible to avoid the expense of acquiring a new site for a “Goods Clearing House” by utilising some portion of the large area occupied by the three large termini and approaches thereto of King’s Cross, St. Pancras and Euston. [22] [23] There will then be no conflicting interests, no multiplicity of companies, and no difficulty in raising the necessary capital for establishing the system, and what is still more important, no difficulty, as will be shown hereafter under the heading of “Finance,” in producing the necessary revenue to repay the capital and interest, by reason of the progressively increasing traffic which will result from the adoption of the small uniform average rates advocated. The following, then, are some of the very substantial economies which will be effected by my scheme:— I. Expenditure which would be entirely abolished:— (a) The Railway Clearing House, the sole object of which is to apportion receipts and payments between the various companies, about 217 in number, and requiring for its work a large and expensive staff, not only of clerks, but also of inspectors at every junction, and a large establishment at Seymour Street, Euston. (b) The separate Boards of Directors, officers, and clerical staff of all the separate companies. (c) The legal and parliamentary expenses incurred in disputes between the various companies, and in opposing rival companies’ new lines. (d) Advertisements by rival companies of their own routes. II. Expenditure and waste which would be diminished:— 1. By reason of unification of systems. (a) Competing receiving offices and their staffs would be reduced to one in each locality. (b) Rolling stock, which is now often idle because owned by different companies, could be used solely according to the requirements of the traffic. (c) Competing trains now running on different lines at the same time between London and other large towns could be run at different times with largely increased numbers of passengers at same cost. (d) Adjoining stations belonging to competing companies would be amalgamated. 2. By reason of the adoption of uniform rates and fares. (a) The abolition of the elaborate book-keeping and staffs needful for the present complicated system of passengers’ fares and goods rates, especially the latter, with the waste not only of expense but also of time. (b) The saving of the expense of printing and advertising various priced tickets and fare tables, also of the large staff of booking clerks, inspectors and others. (c) The saving of the legal expenses now incurred by the Railway and Canal Commission Court in appeals and disputes between the companies and traders as to rates, etc. 3. By reason of the amalgamation of railways with the Post Office. (a) The rent and expenses of numerous Post Offices in the neighbourhood of railway stations would be saved, all stations being used for postal purposes. (b) All postal sorting and other offices could be situate on railway premises in or near the stations, and besides thus saving the rent would be in closer touch with the railway. (c) The whole of the railway tracks would be available without rent for laying of telegraph and telephone wires, either over or underground. (d) Surplus land of the railways, in particular where adjoining to stations, would be available for other Government purposes, such as Inland Revenue Offices, Labour Exchanges, Military, Naval or Civil Service purposes, Police Stations, Fire Stations, County Courts, Police Courts, Land Courts, as well as Courts for dealing with questions arising out of the railways themselves. 2. GENERAL ADVANTAGES. Unification enables each part of the country to have as good a service of trains as every other part, notwithstanding differences of population and resources. The Companies now operating on the South Coast cannot provide so good a service as the Northern Companies owing to the lack of the great mining and industrial centres which are served by the latter. One of the most conspicuous examples of this is Ireland. A Royal Commission was sitting for many years on the question of Irish railways, and ultimately reported in favour of State acquisition. Even this, it is clear, would not entirely solve the difficulty, which arises from the natural causes of being an island with (compared to the rest of Great Britain) a [24] [25] small population, mostly agricultural. If, however, the Irish railways were amalgamated with all the others of the United Kingdom under the proposed scheme the problem is solved. In the estimate given in considering the finance of the scheme the Irish railways are included. The conversion of the railway system into Government property will, apart from the question of economy already referred to, provide a most important advantage to the State. For example, the War Office can make use of the railway system, not only for the purposes of transport, but for the erection on surplus land throughout the country of barracks, stores, and other buildings, for wireless telegraph stations and for aviation purposes. The Admiralty will have the use of the great docks and wharves now owned by railways. The Civil Service will also find ample space for additional office accommodation, often in the most convenient spots both in town and country. Still more important even than these advantages is the fact that by the removal of all money restrictions from transport, not only an immediate but a progressive increase of traffic will result. That this will be so is shown hereafter when considering the question of the finance of the scheme, but it is referred to here as one of the most important advantages of the scheme, apart from the benefits to the nation already referred to of free circulation of passengers and goods. In the first place, the increase of traffic will require in all probability the whole of the staff now employed, who would otherwise be thrown out of employment by reason of the economies referred to above. It will be noticed that in the estimates given under the heading of “Finance of the Scheme” no decrease, but on the contrary, a slight increase has been estimated for in the working expenses, notwithstanding the enormous saving to be anticipated by the abolition and reduction of wasteful expenditure under the present system. My reason for so doing is partly to err on the side of caution in the estimates, but also to provide for the probability of having to retain the whole of the existing staff, and possibly increasing their wages and reducing their hours of labour. Most of the economies referred to must necessarily be effected gradually; for instance, the clerical staffs of the various railway companies and of the Railway Clearing House would be required for some considerable time in the process of winding-up, and by the time this is finished the traffic will have still further increased and their work will then be required in the more necessary departments of, say, the Goods Clearing Houses throughout the country. Secondly, the progressive increase of traffic will produce a corresponding increase of revenue which will be available for extensions and additions, for electrification of lines, and other improvements in means of transport, and ultimately even in still further reduction in charges, but last and by no means least in the adoption of appliances and inventions for the safety of life and limb both of passengers and railway servants. Unlike the present companies, the Government will have no difficulty in raising the capital required for any such purposes, and in relying upon the inevitable increase of traffic, as now is the case of the Post Office, for repayment. Take the case of automatic couplings. These were invented 40 years ago[4] and their adoption has been urged on the companies ever since, not only on the merciful ground of saving life and limb, but also on the financial ground of saving waste of time in shunting; but the initial expense of fitting these to every truck and carriage has been too much for the directors of the Companies to risk. Many inventions for automatic signalling, instantaneous brakes, and other life-saving appliances have been from time to time submitted to railway companies, but the initial expense of installation throughout the many miles of railway of each company has been so great that one hardly wonders at the hesitation of directors in laying out money belonging to the shareholders, especially when, notwithstanding a small normal increase of traffic, the working expenses have increased to a greater degree. FOOTNOTES See “The Rural Problem,” by H. D. Harben (Constable & Co., 1913, 2s. 6d.). Mr. Balfour Browne, K.C., also, in addressing the London Chamber of Commerce, February, 1897, said, “I am not exaggerating when I say that the Agricultural question … is nothing else but a question of Railway Rates.” Lecture by A. W. Gattie, at London School of Economics, 11th March, 1913. “Mammon’s Victims,” by T. A. Brocklebank, published by C. W. Daniel, 1911—Price 6d. CHAPTER III. THE PRINCIPLES UPON WHICH THE SCHEME IS BASED. At first sight it seems preposterous that the fare from London to Glasgow should be only one shilling, the same as from London to Brighton, or that the fare of one penny from Mansion House to Victoria should be the same as from Victoria to Croydon. To a railway expert it will doubtless appear still more preposterous that the rate for a ton of iron- ore should be the same as for a ton of manufactured iron, and that the rate for general merchandise should be as low as 1s. 6d. per ton for any distance; and yet it is now considered a matter of course that the rate of 1d. for 4 ozs. for a [26] [2] [3] [4] [27] letter from London to Londonderry should be the same as from one part of London to another, or 3d. for 1 lb. should be the rate by parcel post for any distance great or small, and irrespective of what the contents of the parcel may be. The system of charging for transport according to distance, which is still in force throughout the civilised world, except in the Postal Service, appears to me to be founded on a wrong principle. It has no doubt been adopted on the assumption that the greater the cost of production the greater should be the charge, and, therefore, that as it costs more to build 100 miles of railway than one mile, and takes more coal or electric current to haul a train for 100 miles than for one mile, it is necessary to charge more for the longer distance. Even the Post Office still clings to the same idea, in charging higher rates for the telephone trunk service according to distance, although the charges for telegrams are the same for any distance! It is significant that whereas the net profits from railways remain more or less stationary, that of the Post Office with uniform rates continually increases, and that the telephone system with charges according to distance is so far the least satisfactory branch of the Post Office. It is no doubt a general rule that the price of an article depends upon the cost of production, but when dealing with transport the analogy fails. In the case of a national system of railways the provision of a regular service of trains to and from all parts of the country is a necessity. Such a service requires that trains must run at stated intervals advertised beforehand from one terminus to another, say from A to Z, with various stopping places between those points, which may be represented by other letters of the alphabet. The cost of running each train will be the same, whether it contains 20 passengers or 200, whether some or all of the passengers alight from or board the train at any intermediate station or at either terminus. Therefore, the actual cost of carrying a passenger from A to Z is not, in fact, more than from A to B, or from M to Z. The same consideration applies to goods with even greater force. With goods the cost of handling them has to be considered, as well as the cost of haulage. If goods are sent from A to B only they must be handled twice, and this is no more than if they are sent from A to Z, assuming there is no need for change of trucks. In the case of goods under the present system there is a further principle acted upon, which is still more obviously a wrong one, viz., what is known as charging according to “what the traffic will bear.” This term is well known to all railway experts, and is a convenient way of explaining the reasons governing the various rates under the present system. For instance, if too high a rate is charged for goods of comparatively small value, traders prefer to send by the cheaper modes, namely, by sea or by road, and in many cases it would not be worth while to send at all, whereas in the case of an article like silk or bullion of considerable value the extra cost of carriage even at a high rate would not add appreciably to the price. Therefore, the railway companies are compelled to make lower charges for low-priced goods, otherwise they would lose the traffic altogether. Accordingly there are such anomalies as a higher rate for the carriage of manufactured iron than of iron-ore for the same distance, although the cost of trucks, of haulage, and of handling may be identical. Again, the rate for carriage of meat from the Midlands to London is greater than that from Liverpool to London, partly on account of the competition of the sea, and partly on account of the large consignments of foreign meat. Again, the rate for the carriage of bricks from one part of London to another is greater than from Peterborough to London, because Peterborough is in a brick-producing district. These inconsistencies and anomalies are intensified by the necessity of the goods having to be carried over the lines of several different railway companies, all of whom must receive some profit out of the carriage of the goods, in addition to the actual cost. It is quite clear that the actual cost of haulage for the same distance of say a ton of coal is no more than that of a ton of bricks or of manufactured iron, or of sand, or of a pantechnicon full of furniture, all of which can be carried in open trucks, yet the rates for all these various goods, even for the same distance, differ widely from each other under the present system, and differ again not only according to distance but actually according to the different towns between which th...