RAPlD-THANSrr SUHWAYS IN MKTROPOr.ITAN (MTIKS. 



7<55 



iu^ and ovening, at a fare not to exceed '2 cents for the whole or any 

 jiart of the jonrney on the Central London Kaihvay. Of course Par- 

 liament knows no hi<i,her law than its own will, and may impose any 

 restrictions or may order compulsory purchase mI any |)iMce, l»iit all 

 such proceedings are without the realm oi" in-ohahilily. 



This dit^'erence between undereroun<l and tramway lines rather 

 surprises one at first, for British cities have gone as far in the -lirec- 

 tion of municipal socialism as those of ahnost any other country. The 

 e.\})lanation is a very imi)ortant fact, viz, that nuniicipali/ation in 

 (ireat Britain is not so much an economic movement as the expression 

 of the desire that the local governments keep control of the streets. 

 The nndergronnd roads, in so far as they cross or \r.\ss nndei- the 

 streets and i)ul)lic places, are using pnblic property, to which, the 



FlO. 'S. — A stati' n 



l,'>ii(l(iii Railway. 



public authorities have as clear a title as that of a private individual 

 to the ground under his house. The law knows no limit either al)ove 

 or below the surface. Yet no demand has been made npon the nnder- 

 o-ronnd lines for payment or for the reser\'ation of the right to take 

 over the line. It is to be borne in mind, however, that the nnder- 

 o-round roads. esi)ecially those constructed since the movement for 

 mnnicipalization became strong, are some distance below the surface." 

 that their construction and operation necessitates very little disturb- 

 ance of the street surface, and that instead of increasing the street 

 tralTic they relieve it. Further, they do not promise to be exceedingly 

 remunerative, and without public aid either through subsidies or free 

 arrants to use the ground below the surface of the streets many of 



a The average depth of the Glasgow subway is 29 feet, and the Central London 

 Railway is everywhere, e.xcept at the western terminus, which is on private 

 property, at least 80 feet below the surface of the streets. Only the Metro- 

 politan and the INIetropolit.m District Conipany are near the surface and have 

 open subways. These are the steam n.ads, wliich .;,'()t their pdwers years ago. 



