October 25, 1895.] 



SCIENCE. 



541 



where, as a people, we have allowed our- 

 selves to be imposed upon. The history of 

 no other nation is so full of examples of 

 genius in adapting the means at hand to 

 secure required ends. Bogie trucks, pin- 

 counected trusses, timber trestles and 

 bridges were all called into existence by the 

 necessities of work, and by the American 

 genius in employing the material at hand. 

 The modern steel construction in city build- 

 ings comes under the same head. A study 

 of the patent office records proves that we 

 are extravagant, not because we are incapa- 

 ble of developing methods, but because it 

 has not been necessary for us to be other- 

 wise. This seems to point to the fact that 

 we have become accustomed to care only 

 for ourselves and our private interests and 

 are neglecting j)ublic economies. 



There are, however, growing evidences of 

 progress in this direction. The Interstate 

 Commerce LaAV is designed to restrict rail- 

 road charges between non- competing points 

 to what shall be reasonable rates for the 

 service rendered. . Railroad corporations 

 can no longer obtain franchises to construct 

 lines parallel to existing lines, unless it is 

 clearly shown that the traffic is too heavy 

 for one road. Four States of the Union now 

 refuse to give the right of eminent domain 

 to railroads, as has been done in times past. 

 Even to obtain a franchise for an electric 

 street line it must be shown that there is a 

 public demand for its construction . Within 

 the past three months the Supreme Court 

 of New York has confirmed a decision of 

 the State Railway Commission to the effect 

 that no electric road may be constructed 

 parallel to a railway, unless it is proved 

 that public necessity and convenience re- 

 quire it. The Courts held that exorbitant 

 rates on the steam railroad were to be 

 avoided by application to the Railway Com- 

 mission, and redress had through them. 

 The public has an inherent right, however, 

 to the best sei'vice for the least monej^, and 



if trolley lines can give better service at 

 lower rates than the steam roads, pubUc 

 economy demands their construction and 

 use. 



Deep water canals, which are awakening 

 so much interest at present, aflbrd another 

 example. Heavy and bulkj^ freight of cer- 

 tain kinds can indisputably be carried 

 more economically by canal than by rail, 

 and yet the railroads keep up a bitter com- 

 petition for that class of matter, and have 

 even been known to carry freight at less 

 than cost in order to force out of competi- 

 tion the canals running along their line of 

 way. It would be far better were the work 

 of the railroads restricted to the transporta- 

 tions of perishable matter and other things 

 whose rapid delivery is important, and all 

 else entrusted to the canals, whose opera- 

 ting expenses, even with the interest on the 

 original outlay, are generally enough smaller 

 to make a considerable difference in the 

 cost of transportation. The possibility of 

 carrying freight Irom New York to Chicago 

 means the possibility of carrying it from 

 Europe to Chicage, and means also saving 

 to the community of the cost of reloading 

 in New York. A deep water canal from 

 Chicago to New Orleans would mean a 

 cheap water connection between the North 

 and the South, and again to the Nation the 

 amount saved on freight. 



In New York a great step has been re- 

 cently taken in the acquisition by the State 

 of a quantity of land. This act of remark- 

 able foresight is a wise provision for future 

 citizens. New Jersey has shown equal 

 wisdom in reserving her mountainous and 

 water-bearing country as a gathering 

 ground, that all her cities may have a pure 

 and unlimited water supply. 



Boston, moved, to be sure, by her own 

 immediate needs, is about to offer to thirty 

 or forty cities in that vicinitj^ the opportu- 

 nity to share in a large enterprise, by which 

 each may secure good water at reduced 



