DOCSLIB.ORG

Where and Why Public Ownership Has Failed

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Where and Why Public Ownership Has Failed WHERE AND WHY PUBLICOWNERSHIP HAS FAILED WHERE AND WHY PUBLIC OWNERSHIP HAS FAILED BY YVES GUYOT- TRANSLATED FROM THE FRENCH BY H. F. BAKER PREFACE The chief difficulty in preparing this book has been to make a coherent arrangement of the material, as the various sources from which it has been gathered are more or lessincomplete. Indeed the obstaclesin the way of presenting a true picture of industrial en- terprises, as operated by states and local governments, can scarcely be exaggerated. The partisans of government and municipal owner- ship of every species of public utility have assumed a distinctive title. They callthemselves representatives of the movement for direct operation (Reprksentonts de 2a Rkgk Directe). Their leader in France is Edgard Milhaud, occupying the chair of Political Economy at the University ofGeneva, where he makes a special point of emphasizing Socia1ism.l In a little periodical, entitled Annales de la Rkgie Direcfe, he presents the case for all government and municipal undertakings, although his enthusiasm frequently receives cruel set- backs, as in the suicide of the Mayor of Elbeuf. He has also published several articles for the purpose of demonstrating that accidents are muchless frequent upon government railways than upon the lines of pri- vate companies. We shall see later (Book 3, Chapter ‘See La D’hnocratir Socidiste Allmade, Paris, F. Afcpa V WHERE AND WHY PUBLIC OWNERSHIP HAS FAILED 2) the value of these attempts to justify his creed, and we may judge from them the importance that is to be attached to his other statements. For the academic year 1911-1912,L’lhle des Hautes Etudes Sociales organized a series of confer- ences on the subject of public operation under the direc- tion of M. Milhaud. It was considered advisable that at the closeof this seriesa dissenting voiceshould be heard-a rde ultimately assigned to me. In addi- tion to ten precedinglectures, wherein the whole theory and practice of Socialism had been set forth, M. Milhaudwas to speak forforty minutes, after which I was to be allotted forty in which to refute the points previouslydeveloped by him during 640 minutes. Then we were both to beallowed twenty minutes in order to sum up our arguments. I had at least the satisfaction of knowing that L‘Humanite‘ attached sufficient importance to this conference to an- nounce that for several days before itwas to take place entrance ticketswould be reserved for “comrades”; under which conditions it was not difficult to foresee that thehall would be converted into a public assembly room. His audience, thus prepared and won over, natur- ally gave M. Mifhaud an enthusiastic welcome. How- ever, despitesome murmurs,it proveditself not unwilling to allow me to oppose my facts to his state- ments. I borrowfrom the report of the discussion, as published in L’Humwzitk, November 14,rgr I, the fol- lowing r6sum6 of the argument of M. Milhaud: ’The organ of the Sscialist propaganda. vi PREFACE “Private monopoly,seeking nothingbut maximum profit, is far more costly than public monopoly, which is not boundby the sameconditions. Money costs public enterprises less, and, therefore, they can amortize their debtand thus reducegeneral expenses. On the other hand,heavier expenses for labor canbe supported by public undertakings. The management of a public enter- prise can even hope for profit, and all this can be accom- plished within less rigid limits than those which neces- sarily confine private monopoly. “Milhaud conciuded by outlining the tendency of pub- lic enterprises to become administrative autonomies. In order that they may escape pernicious bureaucratic influ- ences, they are being transformed into separate comer- cia1 entities.Through increased control by the con- sumer, on the one hand, and by labor on the other, they are being gradually but completely socialized. *‘Through reduction in prices, these enterprises create larger bodies of consumers, and theyalso bring abmt more flexible relations between employers and employed, The representatives of collectivism, individual consut&?fs and producers, may thusunite in behalf of &l progress.” When wecome to examine the assertions of the propagandists of public operation,we perceive that they are of no better quality than any other Socialist theories ; but the assuredmanner with which these statements are declared succeeds in disturbing and in- timidating many people. Yet, in the elections of 1910, Paul Forsans,President of La Sociktk des IntkrZts Ecorcomiques, was able to organize a vigorous cam- paign against an alcohol and insurance monopoly. French Socialists, unable to appeal to the experience vii WHERE AND WHY PUBLIC OWNERSHIPHAS FAILED of the Western (state) railroad, or the experience of the town of Elbeuf, say : “Very good, but in Prussia the state railways are altogether satisfactory, and, in all the important cities of Great Britain, Municipal So- cialism is enjoying a veritable triumph.” Such partisans quote the testimony of public depart- ments, never weary of boasting of their own success- ful administration, and ofmunicipalities which, in- spired bylocal pride, declare that theyhave accom- plished miracles. But how can we accept these preju- diced certificates of good conduct until we have been privileged to make a detailed inventory? There is a crying need at the present time for col- lections of precise facts, which shall show the vanity and “bluff’ of Socialist programs, and such facts must beplaced before the public.My sole object in writ- ing this book has been to present just such a compila- tion of rigidly investigated, authentic facts and figures regarding public ownership and operation. If I have not been able to affirm that government and municipal undertakings are efficient the fault is not mine. I have not found them so. A well-knownAmerican, Arthur Hadley, President ~ of Yale University, says, in his book entitled Eco- nomics: “Theadvantages of intervention on the part of a government are visible and tangible facts : The evil that results from such intervention is much more indirect and can only be appreciated after close and intensive study.” i I have vainly sought for the benefit arising from public operation by states and municipalities. On the viii PREFACE contrary an unbiased survey of the whole subject forces me to testify to the resulting harm. Y. G. November, 1912. For the American edition thefacts and figures herein set forth have been brought up to dateJune, 1913. b TRANSLATOR’S NOTE The translation hasbeen read and revised by the Author. Otherwise my hearty thanks for most valu- ableassistance given in translation aredue to Miss Elise Warren and Mr. William D. Kerr. , CONTENTS BOOK I PUBLIC AND PRIVATE TRADINGOPERATIONS PAQE I. Two Precepts., . , . , , . , . , . , , . , I 11. The Three Main-Springs of Human Action. 2 111. Determining Motives of Private as AgainstPublic Enterprises. 5 N. Government and Municipal Trading Operations. 16 BOOK I1 FINANCIALREXJLTS OF GOVERNMENTAND MUNICIPALOWNBRSEIP I. Bookkeeping in State and Municipal Trading Enter- prises........................................35 11. The Belgian State Railroads. 46 111. Prussian RaiIroads.. ' 55 IV. State Railways of Austria and Hungary. 72 V. Italian Railways. 77 VI. The Railways of the Swiss Meration.. .. 88 VII. Railways of New Zealand. .. 94 VIII. Government Railro&s in France. IX. Public vs. Privat,e,operaeion.. :2d X. The Holy Cities of Municipal Operation.. 125 XI. Operation of Gas and hlectricity in the United ging- dm. :. I . 127 XII. Tramways in Great Britain.. , . 136 XIII. Housiag of the Worldng Claw.s and Public ownership in Great Britain.. , . , . .. , . , . , . 151 XIV. Housing of the Working- Ctasses (Continued). .. , ,. r61 CONTENTS PACE xv . Government Controlof Food Supplies............. ' I75 XVI . Victims of Government Ownership................. 181v XVII . Charges. Debts and Credits ....................... 183 XVIII . Fictitious Profits ................................ 191 XIX . MonopoliesFiscal ............................... 194 1 xx . The Alcohol Monopoly in Switzerland and Russia... 205 XXI . Financial Disorder ............................... 216 XXII . The Purchase Price .............................. 241 XXIII . Delusions of Profit and the Life Insurance Monopoly inItaly ...................................... 243 1 XXIV . The Fiscal Mines of the Saar District .............. 253 xxv . Public vs. 'Private Enterprises..................... 256 BOOK I11 ADMINISTRATIVE RESULTS I. Administrative Results........................... 271 I1 . TheSafety of Travellersupon State andPrivate Railway Lines ................................ 272 I11 Disorders. Delays and Errors ..................... 280 . 1 IV. official Conservatism ............................ 292 V . Labor .......................................... 300 VI . The Consumer .................................. 348 VI1 . Programs of Organization and Regulation .......... 369 BOOK IV 1 POLITICALAND SOCIALCONSEQUENCES OF PUBLIC OPERA~ON . I. Socialist Programsand the Facts .................. 381 I1. BlUtE ........................................... 394 111 . Results of Experience ............................ 398 1 IV . The State a Dishonest Man ....................... 400 V . Corruption ..................................... 423 VI . Nationalization of Public Utilities and the Foundation of Great Fortunes ............................. 47 VI1. Disintegrating Character of Public Operation ..... 429 WHERE AND WHY PUBLIC OWNERSHIP HAS FAILED Where and Why Public Owner- ship
Load more

Recommended publications
  • WHY DISCUSS NATIONALIZATION of Railways in an Age Ofprivati
    Japanese Yearbook on Business History•\1999/16 Nationalization of Railways The Japanese and British Cases Takeshi YUZAWA Gakushuin University zation?As we look around us,we see that people around the WHYworldDISCUSS seem NATIONALIZATIONto think that the managerialofrailways inandan financial age of privatiprob lems of public enterprises can be solved by privatization.Sometimes privatization is considered to be a magical solution to these problems. Still,it is good to go back to the time when nationalization was all the rage,when there were hot debates about the difficulties of private com panies,especially the problems caused by their monopolistic power, so that gradually governments increased their power to intervene and control private companies and eventually nationalized them.From this point of view,understanding more about the process of nation alization would be quite important for understanding the meaning and limitations of the privatization currently being carried out in many countries. Railways were,from their earliest days,under the strong control of their governments,even in the U.K.in the heyday of laissezfaire. Why were the railways under the strong control of governments? There are three main reasons for this. The first is that a railway has to pass through large numbers of pri- 8JAPANESE YEARBOOKON BUSINESSHISTORY-1999/16 vate properties over long distances;in order to make the railway run the shortest distance between two points and over profitable routes, the promoters have to trespass on private property to lay the rails.They are required to obtain a wayleave from the parliament to entitle them to build tracks through private land;without such a legal authoriza tion,the railway company could be sued by landowners for trespassing on private property.
    [Show full text]
  • Government Ownership of Railways Considered As the Next Great Step
    Government Ownership of Railways Considered as the Next Great Step in American Progress By Anthony Van Wagenen G. P. Putnam's Sons New York and London Zhz Itnfcfterbocfter press 1910 Copyright, 1910 BY ANTHONY VAN WAGENEN TTbe IRnicberboclier ipcess. mew ^otb PREFACE ONE object of this book is to call public attention to the world-wide triumph of government ownership of railways. So complete is this triumph that the world may now be said to be upon a government- ownership basis. In four-fifths of the na- tions of the world, government ownership is the rule and private ownership the excep- tion; while out of the fifty considerable nations of the earth, there are only four in which government ownership does not pre- vail to a greater or less extent. This book is a plain history of the growth of the system of public ownership from the time when the Government of Belgium pioneered in rail- roading with private capital to this day of the general adoption of nationalization. The argument herein is meant for the general reader. It is burdened with few tables or statistics, and the author hopes that, while not lacking in clarity, the book is so written that the busy man may be able to read it iv Preface restfully. No claim as to exhaustiveness is made, but it is hoped that no omissions will be found which will vitiate the con- clusions presented. The author believes that the time is ripe for public discussion of this subject, and he hopes that this book may stimulate such discussion.
    [Show full text]
  • Avanti West Coast Complaints
    Avanti West Coast Complaints Hebert machines sluggishly while labyrinthine Venkat word hesitatingly or denigrates mitotically. Vexatiously croupous, Iain jokes reduplications and Sellotapes bunnies. Upstanding Emmott sometimes eats his potoroo everyway and posits so stilly! Text copied to avanti west coast is especially during the trainline at warrington bank details may not offered premium that your website that talk to hinder fare Who owns Avanti rail? Virtual Avanti West who work community for UTC Warrington. The hard of an Avanti West side train showing the new logo as it waits to baby from London's Euston Station with its inaugural journey along. We caught her character tina carter is lancs live your complaints. BusinessLive took one of simple first ever London Euston to Liverpool Lime Street Avanti West Coast services to pool out 1 Train doors close TWO. Made gifts to mark statistics are deemed to workplaces and complaints, a complaint direct london to have to be recorded as avanti. Trenitalia Wikipedia. Railway nationalization Wikipedia. Avanti West Coast Complaints Resolver. Train Ticket Refunds Avanti West Coast. Remuneration policy read about avanti west coast complaint using resolver we were kept so people. An El Dorado Hills family received an anonymous noise complaint about their autistic daughter This El. How to avanti operates extensively in. It was selected services. Avanti West Coast latest news breaking stories and. Did glasgow to show or otherwise endorsed by commuter railroads? 201 Avanti Bar Fridge w Freezer Underneath Inside Cabinet. Protect Avanti West bank Customer Resolution Jobs rmt. How to its website crashed. There are certainly quite a number of complaints because some.
    [Show full text]
  • Iron Landscapes
    INTRODUCTION 5 Iron Landscapes I daresay that the railways have raised nations in the same way as schools. —Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk, Jak pracovat? Přednášky z roku 1898 As Berlin correspondent for the Frankfurter Zeitung in 1924, the Aus- trian novelist and journalist Joseph Roth (1894–1939) wrote an am- bivalent hymn to modern technology entitled Bekenntnis zum Gleisdreieck (Affirmation of the Triangular Railway Junction). In the form of a religious creed, he invoked the railway junction as the centre of the modern world: I affirm the triangular railway junction. It is an emblem and a focus, a living organism and the fantastic product of a futuristic force. It is a center. All the vital energies of its locus begin and end here, in the same way that the heart is both the point of departure and the des- tination of the blood as it flows through the body’s veins and arteries. It’s the heart of a world whose life is belt drive and clockwork, piston rhythm and siren scream. It is the heart of the world, which spins on its axis a thousand times faster than the alternation of day and night would have us believe; whose continuous and never-ending rotation looks like madness and is the product of mathematical calculation; whose dizzy- ing velocity makes backward-looking sentimentalists fear the ruthless extermination of inner forces and healing balance but actually engen- ders healing warmth and the benediction of movement. Roth’s notion of the railway combined biological and mechanical im- ages. He described the junction as a living being, even the heart of the world.
    [Show full text]
  • Improvement of Spain's Regional Railway System Based Off of Germany's Railway Model
    Improvement of Spain’s regional railway system based off of Germany’s railway model: Making R3 an efficient train line. Gil Salvans Torras Bachelor thesis Thesis advisor: María del Carmen Moreno Course 2018-2019 Abstract This research aims to compare the Spanish and German regional railway mobility systems, by analyzing infrastructures which compose each network, services operating them and legal framework that comprises them. To make it the most accurate and realistic, two study cases are analyzed in depth: R3 of Rodalies Renfe and RB22 of DB Regio Mitte. All of this composes the input to create an Improvement Project which will put forward and eliminate the innefficiecies of the Rodalies Renfe services based on the DB Regio experience. Key words: railway, regional, Deutsche Bahn, Renfe, system, transportation, Rodalies, R3, RB22. Resumen Esta investigación presenta una analogía entre los sistemas ferroviarios regionales de España y Alemania, donde se analizan las dos redes ferroviarias y sus infraestructuras correspondientes, los servicios que las operan y sus respectivos marcos legales presentes. Para darle más precisión y aplicabilidad práctica, se analizan profundamente dos casos de estudio: la línea R3 de Rodalies Renfe y la RB22 de DB Regio Mitte. Todo esto conforma la base para crear un proyecto de mejora que expondrá y eliminará las ineficiencias de los servicios de Rodalies basado en la experiencia alemana de DB Regio. Palabras clave: ferrocarril, regional, Deutsche Bahn, Renfe, sistema, transporte, Rodalies, R3, RB22. 1 Table of contents 1. Introduction............................................................................................................... 3 1.1. Presentation of the topic and motivations ........................................................ 3 1.2. Objectives and hypothesis ................................................................................. 4 1.3.
    [Show full text]
  • In Search of a Railway Europe : Transnational Railway Developments in Interwar Europe
    In search of a railway Europe : transnational railway developments in interwar Europe Citation for published version (APA): Anastasiadou, E. (2009). In search of a railway Europe : transnational railway developments in interwar Europe. Technische Universiteit Eindhoven. https://doi.org/10.6100/IR658478 DOI: 10.6100/IR658478 Document status and date: Published: 01/01/2009 Document Version: Publisher’s PDF, also known as Version of Record (includes final page, issue and volume numbers) Please check the document version of this publication: • A submitted manuscript is the version of the article upon submission and before peer-review. There can be important differences between the submitted version and the official published version of record. People interested in the research are advised to contact the author for the final version of the publication, or visit the DOI to the publisher's website. • The final author version and the galley proof are versions of the publication after peer review. • The final published version features the final layout of the paper including the volume, issue and page numbers. Link to publication General rights Copyright and moral rights for the publications made accessible in the public portal are retained by the authors and/or other copyright owners and it is a condition of accessing publications that users recognise and abide by the legal requirements associated with these rights. • Users may download and print one copy of any publication from the public portal for the purpose of private study or research. • You may not further distribute the material or use it for any profit-making activity or commercial gain • You may freely distribute the URL identifying the publication in the public portal.
    [Show full text]
  • Growth and Productivity Change in the Canadian Railway Sector, 1871-1926
    This PDF is a selection from an out-of-print volume from the National Bureau of Economic Research Volume Title: Long-Term Factors in American Economic Growth Volume Author/Editor: Stanley L. Engerman and Robert E. Gallman, eds. Volume Publisher: University of Chicago Press Volume ISBN: 0-226-20928-8 Volume URL: http://www.nber.org/books/enge86-1 Publication Date: 1986 Chapter Title: Growth and Productivity Change in the Canadian Railway Sector, 1871-1926 Chapter Author: Alan Green Chapter URL: http://www.nber.org/chapters/c9694 Chapter pages in book: (p. 779 - 818) 15 Growth and Productivity Change in the Canadian Railway Sector, 1871-1926 Alan G. Green The written history of the Canadian railway sector focuses almost exclusively on the financial problems associated with the construction of specific railways.l Virtually no work on the growth of the Canadian railway system has been undertaken either in terms of its dimensions, and how they changed over time, or on the efficiency of this sector. This paper redresses part of this deficiency. It does so by setting out the growth ofthe railway system in Canada from 1871 to 1926 in terms ofthe net income generated by this industry. In addition, a preliminary attempt is made at estimating productivity change for the railway system. The time period studied is from 1871 to 1926. These years span the decades fromjust after Confederation (1867) to approximately the peak of economic activity in Canada during the interwar period. By 1926 the railway system, as we know it today was largely in place. This is a far cry from the system which existed in the early 1870s.
    [Show full text]
  • A Sheffield Hallam University Thesis
    Railways, land-use planning and urban development : 1948-94. HAYWOOD, Russell. Available from the Sheffield Hallam University Research Archive (SHURA) at: http://shura.shu.ac.uk/19777/ A Sheffield Hallam University thesis This thesis is protected by copyright which belongs to the author. The content must not be changed in any way or sold commercially in any format or medium without the formal permission of the author. When referring to this work, full bibliographic details including the author, title, awarding institution and date of the thesis must be given. Please visit http://shura.shu.ac.uk/19777/ and http://shura.shu.ac.uk/information.html for further details about copyright and re-use permissions. Fines are charged at 50p per hour 2 4 SEP 2003 H- I fp M Z\ 2 1 NOV^OP ProQuest Number: 10697079 All rights reserved INFORMATION TO ALL USERS The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. In the unlikely event that the author did not send a com plete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. uest ProQuest 10697079 Published by ProQuest LLC(2017). Copyright of the Dissertation is held by the Author. All rights reserved. This work is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States C ode Microform Edition © ProQuest LLC. ProQuest LLC. 789 East Eisenhower Parkway P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 48106- 1346 Railways, Land-Use Planning and Urban Development: 1948-94 Russell Haywood A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements of Sheffield Hallam University for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy January 2001 Thanks Many people and organisations have provided me with help and support over the five years or so that I have been carrying out this research.
    [Show full text]
  • Irrational Exuberance:” the Creation of the CNR, 1917 – 1919
    CASE STUDY “Irrational Exuberance:” The Creation of the CNR, 1917 – 1919 MGT 2917 Canadian Business History Professor Joe Martin This case was prepared by Professor Joe Martin as the basis for class discussion rather than to illustrate either effective or ineffective handling of a managerial situation. Copyright © 2006 by the Governing Council of the University of Toronto.To order copies or request permission to reproduce materials write to the Joseph L. Rotman School of Management, Business Information Centre,Toronto, M5S 3E6, or go to www.rotman.utoronto.ca/bic. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in any retrieval system, used in a spreadsheet, or transmitted in any form or by any means, whether by photocopying, recording or by electronic or mechanical means, or otherwise, without the written permission of the Joseph L. Rotman School of Management. “Irrational Exuberance:” The Creation of the CNR, 1917 – 1919 his is a story of ‘irrational exuberance’, a phrase made famous by the former Chairman of the American TFederal Reserve Board, Alan Greenspan. This case illustrates how ‘irrational exuberance’1 affected individuals in both the public and private sector, particularly Prime Minister Sir Wilfrid Laurier and corporate giant Sir William Mackenzie. Our story begins in July 1917, when the consequences of irrational exuberance were being felt, by some for the first time. The world was at war and Canadian Prime Minister Robert Borden had returned to Canada from meetings of the Imperial War Cabinet in London, where the news was not good. Canadian casualties had been heavy that spring, particularly during the Battle of Vimy Ridge, which was captured by the Canadians but at a cost of nearly 24,000 casualties.
    [Show full text]
  • GIPE-004849.Pdf (3.184Mb)
    ~·4849 ; Dhananjayarao Gadgilllhrary' ; 1111111 11m 11111 11111 11m 111111111111 , GIPE-PUNE-004849 HISTORICAL SKETCH OF STATE RAILWAY OWNERSHIP - HISTORICAL SKETCH OF STATE RAILWAY OWNERSHIP BY W. M. ACWORTH LONDON JOHN MURRAY, ALBEMARLE STREET, W. 1920 )(,~\ !.; : Z Il , J / Fo Au. RIGHTS RananD PREFACE THE United States Congress appointed in 1916 a Joint Committee of both Houses of Congress,. known, after the name of its Chairman, as the Newlanas Committee, to investigate the railway position, with special instructions to report on the history of State ownership in foreign countries. I was asked by the Railway Executives' Advisory Committee, a body corresponding to our Railway Companies' Association, to write a short summary of a long history for sub­ mission to the Committee; and in April 1917 I gave oral evidence at four sittings 01 the Committee as to its contents. The question of railway nationalization has since then come to the fore in England, and I have frequently been asked for copies of my paper. It has seemed, thetefore, worth while to publish it here. I have not attempted any substantial revision. I have only translated American currency and American railway technical terms into the English equivalents. This not merely for lack of leisure. The war has upset everything; current, reports and returns are almost unobtainable; and even when obtainable they are practically valueless, as they refer to a wholly ix PREFACE abnormal situation. The same reason explains why the figures of the text relate to different dates. I have used the best and the latest that were to me accessible. ·One further explanation is necessary.
    [Show full text]
  • Organizational Regimes for Commuter Rail: Improving Train Service Worldwide
    Allen and Lu 1 Organizational Regimes for Commuter Rail: Improving Train Service Worldwide TRB Paper 10-0242 John G. Allen Regional Transportation Authority 175 W. Jackson Blvd., Suite 1550 Chicago, IL 60604 (312) 913-3233 fax (312) 913-3206 <[email protected]> Alex Lu MTA New York City Transit 2 Broadway, Cubicle A17.111 New York, NY 10004 (646) 252-5664 <[email protected]> For publication in Transportation Research Record 6,746 words plus two tables and one figure = 7,496 words March 12, 2010 version Allen and Lu 2 Developments in the ownership and control of railroads affect commuter rail. Vertical integration and open access are widely seen as mutually exclusive options for rail reform. North American railroads were relieved of passenger service obligations and granted commercial freedom to improve profitability – all within the vertically integrated tradition. In Europe, infrastructure separation aims to encourage competition on traditionally monolithic and unprofitable government railways. Australia and Argentina have opted for business sectors and vertically-integrated operating concessions. These differing policy initiatives have triggered remarkably similar responses by commuter rail authorities. Commuter rail is now managed with more local control than previously, with governments providing necessary operating support and infrastructure investment. Separation between commuter rail operators and control of rail infrastructure has generally increased, and greater institutional coordination is now required to deliver effective commuter service. Regardless of national rail policy, commuter rail agencies can improve service by obtaining or retaining control of the carrier core functions. Under vertical integration, agencies may purchase control of rail infrastructure assets and invest in improvements as opportunities arise.
    [Show full text]
  • Capitalism, Politics, and Railroads in Prussia, 1830-1870
    Historical Perspectives on Business Enterprise Series Letterhead from the Rhenish Railway in the 1830s Courtesy Rheinisch-Westfalisches Wirtschaftsarchiv, Cologne Capitalism, Politics, and Railroads in Prussia, 1830-1870 JAMES M. BROPHY Ohio State University Press Columbus An earlier version of chapter 5 and part of chapter 8 originally appeared in Central European History. Copyright © 1998 by The Ohio State University. All rights reserved. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Brophy, James M. Capitalism, politics, and railroads in Prussia, 1830-1870 / James M. Brophy. p. cm. — (Historical perspectives on business enterprise series) Includes bibliographical references (p. ) and index. ISBN 0-8142-0751-0 (cloth : alk. paper) 1. Railroads and state—Germany—Prussia—History —19th century. 2. Business and politics—Germany—Prussia—History —19th century. I. Title. II. Series. HE3079.P7B76 1998 385'.0943'09034-dc21 97-29251 CIP Text and jacket design by Nighthawk Design. Type set in Times Roman by Tseng Information Systems. Printed by McNaughton & Gunn, Inc. The paper in this publication meets the minimum requirements of American National Standard for Information Sciences — Permanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials. ANSI Z39 48-1992. 987654321 For Susan CONTENTS Preface ix One Capital and Political Authority in German History 1 Two Private or State Owned? The Railroad Question, 1830-1848 22 Three The Search for Mutual Accommodation, 1848-1857 53 Four The Conflict over Night Trains 75 Five Banking and the Business Class 87 Six The Railroad Fund, 1842-1859 107 Seven The Juste Milieu, 1857-1870 135 Eight Conclusion 165 List of Abbreviations 177 Notes 179 Bibliography 247 Index 269 PREFACE Anthony Trollope's biting satire of London's establishment, The Way We XJ L Live Now (1875), turns on a monstrous railroad scheme and a conti­ nental financier, allowing the author to display the layers of hypocrisy in the pretensions of birthright, capital wealth, and political power.
    [Show full text]