Free Railway Construction vs. Government Controlled and Owned Railways

Under the head of Free Railway Construction will be included all railroads that have been or can be built by individuals or companies, without special acts of Government, whether national or State. Under the head of Government-Owned Railways will be included those owned and operated by the Government; and under the head of Government Controlled Railways will be included all those that cannot be built without a special act of Government, as is the case with all English railways; in these the English Government has no direct or indirect ownership whatever, but owing to the great difficulty and cost of getting from Parliament special acts to build new lines of railways, the present English roads have a virtual monopoly of the land transportation of the United Kingdom. It is needless to say that the roads make the most of this exclusive right, by charging freight rates that to Americans appear excessive, half of which would fill the hearts of our Railroad Managers with joy.