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assume some doubtful facts, and they overlook other unquestionable
ones ; they advocate D rueasuro which is fortunately
so nenrly impracticable, that there is no approciublt? chmcu of
its being carried out,, but which, if it really were undortakou,
mould probnbly lnnd us in great tinnucinl loss and much
embarrassment.
All reasoning, 110 doubt,, consists in nrping from CRSO to
case: we have esperienco of oxlc trid, and wo infer that what
happens iu this cnso will happen in similar ctlses. But, before
dmming nny such inference, TVC must c:rrefully nssuro oursrlveri
that the cases rcnlly are similar. If in rcyprd to Strltc control
the railways are sitnilcw in economic t~nd ~~lcchnnicirl contlitiouv
to tho Post of&^, we ~nny cspect, them to Ix? s~lcccssful~~
mauagcd by n Government depnrtmcnt; but if, as 1 believr., tlley
lie under totally different conditions, t'llc: infercncc would bo
false, and we must look to quite diffcwxt experience to terLCll
us the probable result.
In a paper read bcfore tho JIanchcster Stntisticnl Society
in April, 1867, as also in oviclence given before thc Select
Committee of the Housc of Cnmmous 011 tho Electric Telcgraphs
Bill, in 18ti8, I advocated the purchnsc of tho telcgraplls,
on the gronncl that there was substantial similwity of conditions
between the telegraplls aud tho rust Office. 'l'l1erc
appear to be four principal conditivns undcr which State
rnnnngement of any Lrnncll o E industry is successful :
1. Tho work must be of 1111 invarial~lo and ruutille-like
nature, so as to be performed according to fixed rulcu.
2. It must be performed under the public eye, or for tllo
service of individuals, who mill immediately detect uil expose
any failure or laxity.
8. There must be very little capital expenditure, YO that
each year's revenue and expense account shall represent, with
approximate accuracy, the real conlmercial SUCC~SR of the
undertaking.
4. The operations must be of such a kind, that their
uniun under one all-extensive Government monopoly will lead
to great advantage and economy.
I need hardly point out in detail that these conditions are
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