Private infrastructure - Revision history

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	The advocates of government subsidies for transcontinental railroads made the argument that such railroads would never be financed by private capital markets. But railroad entrepreneur [[James J. Hill]] proved them wrong by building the [[Great Northern Railroad]], which was by far the most efficiently built and most profitable of all the transcontinentals. "Our own line in the North," Hill proudly boasted, "was built without any government aid, even the right of way, through hundreds of miles of public lands, being paid for in cash."		The advocates of government subsidies for transcontinental railroads made the argument that such railroads would never be financed by private capital markets. But railroad entrepreneur [[James J. Hill]] proved them wrong by building the [[Great Northern Railroad]], which was by far the most efficiently built and most profitable of all the transcontinentals. "Our own line in the North," Hill proudly boasted, "was built without any government aid, even the right of way, through hundreds of miles of public lands, being paid for in cash."

	The Mormons also built four railroads in Utah without any government subsidies. New Hampshire and Vermont gave no aid whatsoever to railroads, yet a privately-funded line was built across the rugged terrain of the two states. Unlike many other states, New Hampshire even refused to grant the right of eminent domain to private railroad companies and, in so doing, encouraged them to pay free-market prices for any rights of way.<ref name="DiLorenzo_Improvements">Thomas J. DiLorenzo. [https://~~mises~~.org/journals/scholar/internal~~.pdf~~ "The Role of Private Transportation in America’s 19th-Century "Internal Improvements" Debate"] (pdf), referenced 2013-01-17.</ref>		The Mormons also built four railroads in Utah without any government subsidies. New Hampshire and Vermont gave no aid whatsoever to railroads, yet a privately-funded line was built across the rugged terrain of the two states. Unlike many other states, New Hampshire even refused to grant the right of eminent domain to private railroad companies and, in so doing, encouraged them to pay free-market prices for any rights of way.<ref name="DiLorenzo_Improvements">Thomas J. DiLorenzo. [https://freecapitalists.org/journals/scholar/internal/ "The Role of Private Transportation in America’s 19th-Century "Internal Improvements" Debate"] (pdf), referenced 2013-01-17.</ref>

	==Bridges and other infrastructure==		==Bridges and other infrastructure==

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2013-09-25T20:16:27Z

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	* [http://www.ncpa.org/pub/ba762 The Jitney Potential: Transportation for the Poor] by Jennifer Dirmeyer, December 2011		* [http://www.ncpa.org/pub/ba762 The Jitney Potential: Transportation for the Poor] by Jennifer Dirmeyer, December 2011
	* [http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/aug/28/berliners-co-op-aims-run-electricity Berliners' co-op aims to take over and run electricity grid of city] by Suzanne Goldenberg, August 2013		* [http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/aug/28/berliners-co-op-aims-run-electricity Berliners' co-op aims to take over and run electricity grid of city] by Suzanne Goldenberg, August 2013
			* [http://www.fee.org/the_freeman/detail/the-abolition-of-the-playground The Abolition of the Playground] by Jeffrey A. Tucker, September 2013

	[[Category:Private alternatives to public goods]]		[[Category:Private alternatives to public goods]]
	[[Category:Concepts]]		[[Category:Concepts]]

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2013-08-31T16:00:04Z

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	* [http://www.fee.org/the_freeman/detail/privatize-the-airports Privatize the Airports!] by Lawrence W. Reed, February 1999		* [http://www.fee.org/the_freeman/detail/privatize-the-airports Privatize the Airports!] by Lawrence W. Reed, February 1999
	* [http://www.ncpa.org/pub/ba762 The Jitney Potential: Transportation for the Poor] by Jennifer Dirmeyer, December 2011		* [http://www.ncpa.org/pub/ba762 The Jitney Potential: Transportation for the Poor] by Jennifer Dirmeyer, December 2011
			* [http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/aug/28/berliners-co-op-aims-run-electricity Berliners' co-op aims to take over and run electricity grid of city] by Suzanne Goldenberg, August 2013

	[[Category:Private alternatives to public goods]]		[[Category:Private alternatives to public goods]]
	[[Category:Concepts]]		[[Category:Concepts]]

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2013-08-20T18:24:01Z

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	* {{md\|6496\|Bootleggers and Baptists on the Beach\|Thomas J. DiLorenzo\|August 2013}}		* {{md\|6496\|Bootleggers and Baptists on the Beach\|Thomas J. DiLorenzo\|August 2013}}
	* [http://www.fee.org/the_freeman/detail/a-tribute-to-the-jitney A Tribute to the Jitney] by Lawrence W. Reed, January 2000		* [http://www.fee.org/the_freeman/detail/a-tribute-to-the-jitney A Tribute to the Jitney] by Lawrence W. Reed, January 2000
			* [http://www.fee.org/the_freeman/detail/privatize-the-airports Privatize the Airports!] by Lawrence W. Reed, February 1999
	* [http://www.ncpa.org/pub/ba762 The Jitney Potential: Transportation for the Poor] by Jennifer Dirmeyer, December 2011		* [http://www.ncpa.org/pub/ba762 The Jitney Potential: Transportation for the Poor] by Jennifer Dirmeyer, December 2011

	[[Category:Private alternatives to public goods]]		[[Category:Private alternatives to public goods]]
	[[Category:Concepts]]		[[Category:Concepts]]

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2013-08-20T05:58:44Z

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	* [http://video.foxbusiness.com/v/4304480/do-we-really-need-traffic-lights/ Do We Really Need Traffic Lights?] (video) by John Stossel, August 2010		* [http://video.foxbusiness.com/v/4304480/do-we-really-need-traffic-lights/ Do We Really Need Traffic Lights?] (video) by John Stossel, August 2010
	* {{md\|6496\|Bootleggers and Baptists on the Beach\|Thomas J. DiLorenzo\|August 2013}}		* {{md\|6496\|Bootleggers and Baptists on the Beach\|Thomas J. DiLorenzo\|August 2013}}
			* [http://www.fee.org/the_freeman/detail/a-tribute-to-the-jitney A Tribute to the Jitney] by Lawrence W. Reed, January 2000
			* [http://www.ncpa.org/pub/ba762 The Jitney Potential: Transportation for the Poor] by Jennifer Dirmeyer, December 2011

	[[Category:Private alternatives to public goods]]		[[Category:Private alternatives to public goods]]
	[[Category:Concepts]]		[[Category:Concepts]]

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2013-08-07T19:43:38Z

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	* [http://www.cato.org/sites/cato.org/files/pubs/pdf/tbb_067.pdf Infrastructure Investment: A State, Local, and Private Responsibility] (pdf) by Chris Edwards, January 2013		* [http://www.cato.org/sites/cato.org/files/pubs/pdf/tbb_067.pdf Infrastructure Investment: A State, Local, and Private Responsibility] (pdf) by Chris Edwards, January 2013
	* [http://video.foxbusiness.com/v/4304480/do-we-really-need-traffic-lights/ Do We Really Need Traffic Lights?] (video) by John Stossel, August 2010		* [http://video.foxbusiness.com/v/4304480/do-we-really-need-traffic-lights/ Do We Really Need Traffic Lights?] (video) by John Stossel, August 2010
			* {{md\|6496\|Bootleggers and Baptists on the Beach\|Thomas J. DiLorenzo\|August 2013}}

	[[Category:Private alternatives to public goods]]		[[Category:Private alternatives to public goods]]
	[[Category:Concepts]]		[[Category:Concepts]]

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2013-04-05T09:45:21Z

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	By the time the Union Pacific and Central Pacific railroads were completed in 1869, both companies were bankrupt. Bribery was so rampant during the Grant administrations that the vice president, Secretary of War, numerous Republican congressmen, Grant’s private secretary, his Treasury Secretary, and even the ambassador to England were all implicated in stock swindles or bribery related to the [[Credit Mobilier Company scandal]].		By the time the Union Pacific and Central Pacific railroads were completed in 1869, both companies were bankrupt. Bribery was so rampant during the Grant administrations that the vice president, Secretary of War, numerous Republican congressmen, Grant’s private secretary, his Treasury Secretary, and even the ambassador to England were all implicated in stock swindles or bribery related to the [[Credit Mobilier Company scandal]].

	The advocates of government subsidies for transcontinental railroads made the argument that such railroads would never be financed by private capital markets. But railroad entrepreneur James J. Hill proved them wrong by building the [[Great Northern Railroad]], which was by far the most efficiently built and most profitable of all the transcontinentals. "Our own line in the North," Hill proudly boasted, "was built without any government aid, even the right of way, through hundreds of miles of public lands, being paid for in cash."		The advocates of government subsidies for transcontinental railroads made the argument that such railroads would never be financed by private capital markets. But railroad entrepreneur [[James J. Hill]] proved them wrong by building the [[Great Northern Railroad]], which was by far the most efficiently built and most profitable of all the transcontinentals. "Our own line in the North," Hill proudly boasted, "was built without any government aid, even the right of way, through hundreds of miles of public lands, being paid for in cash."

	The Mormons also built four railroads in Utah without any government subsidies. New Hampshire and Vermont gave no aid whatsoever to railroads, yet a privately-funded line was built across the rugged terrain of the two states. Unlike many other states, New Hampshire even refused to grant the right of eminent domain to private railroad companies and, in so doing, encouraged them to pay free-market prices for any rights of way.<ref name="DiLorenzo_Improvements">Thomas J. DiLorenzo. [https://mises.org/journals/scholar/internal.pdf "The Role of Private Transportation in America’s 19th-Century "Internal Improvements" Debate"] (pdf), referenced 2013-01-17.</ref>		The Mormons also built four railroads in Utah without any government subsidies. New Hampshire and Vermont gave no aid whatsoever to railroads, yet a privately-funded line was built across the rugged terrain of the two states. Unlike many other states, New Hampshire even refused to grant the right of eminent domain to private railroad companies and, in so doing, encouraged them to pay free-market prices for any rights of way.<ref name="DiLorenzo_Improvements">Thomas J. DiLorenzo. [https://mises.org/journals/scholar/internal.pdf "The Role of Private Transportation in America’s 19th-Century "Internal Improvements" Debate"] (pdf), referenced 2013-01-17.</ref>

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2013-04-05T09:44:50Z

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	In the US, railroad lobbyists descended on Washington with the advent of the Lincoln administration. The federally-funded Union Pacific and Central Pacific Railroads were given sections of land for each mile of track completed; $16,000 in low-interest loans for each mile of track on flat prarie land; $32,000 for hilly terrain; and $48,000 in the mountains. Since the subsidies were paid by the mile the companies built wastefully circuitous routes and collected more and more subsidies. They even built tracks on top of several feet of ice in the Rocky Mountains and then rebuilt them when the ice melted, pocketing even more subsidies. The cheapest construction materials were used and speed, not workmanship, was emphasized.		In the US, railroad lobbyists descended on Washington with the advent of the Lincoln administration. The federally-funded Union Pacific and Central Pacific Railroads were given sections of land for each mile of track completed; $16,000 in low-interest loans for each mile of track on flat prarie land; $32,000 for hilly terrain; and $48,000 in the mountains. Since the subsidies were paid by the mile the companies built wastefully circuitous routes and collected more and more subsidies. They even built tracks on top of several feet of ice in the Rocky Mountains and then rebuilt them when the ice melted, pocketing even more subsidies. The cheapest construction materials were used and speed, not workmanship, was emphasized.

	By the time the Union Pacific and Central Pacific railroads were completed in 1869, both companies were bankrupt. Bribery was so rampant during the Grant administrations that the vice president, Secretary of War, numerous Republican congressmen, Grant’s private secretary, his Treasury Secretary, and even the ambassador to England were all implicated in stock swindles or bribery related to the Credit Mobilier Company scandal.		By the time the Union Pacific and Central Pacific railroads were completed in 1869, both companies were bankrupt. Bribery was so rampant during the Grant administrations that the vice president, Secretary of War, numerous Republican congressmen, Grant’s private secretary, his Treasury Secretary, and even the ambassador to England were all implicated in stock swindles or bribery related to the [[Credit Mobilier Company scandal]].

	The advocates of government subsidies for transcontinental railroads made the argument that such railroads would never be financed by private capital markets. But railroad entrepreneur James J. Hill proved them wrong by building the [[Great Northern Railroad]], which was by far the most efficiently built and most profitable of all the transcontinentals. "Our own line in the North," Hill proudly boasted, "was built without any government aid, even the right of way, through hundreds of miles of public lands, being paid for in cash."		The advocates of government subsidies for transcontinental railroads made the argument that such railroads would never be financed by private capital markets. But railroad entrepreneur James J. Hill proved them wrong by building the [[Great Northern Railroad]], which was by far the most efficiently built and most profitable of all the transcontinentals. "Our own line in the North," Hill proudly boasted, "was built without any government aid, even the right of way, through hundreds of miles of public lands, being paid for in cash."

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2013-03-05T12:18:17Z

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	* [http://video.foxbusiness.com/v/4304480/do-we-really-need-traffic-lights/ Do We Really Need Traffic Lights?] (video) by John Stossel, August 2010		* [http://video.foxbusiness.com/v/4304480/do-we-really-need-traffic-lights/ Do We Really Need Traffic Lights?] (video) by John Stossel, August 2010

			[[Category:Private alternatives to public goods]]
	[[Category:Concepts]]		[[Category:Concepts]]

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2013-02-15T20:18:28Z

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	* [http://www.wilsonquarterly.com/article.cfm?aid=1234 The Traffic Guru] by Tom Vanderbilt, 2008		* [http://www.wilsonquarterly.com/article.cfm?aid=1234 The Traffic Guru] by Tom Vanderbilt, 2008
	* [http://www.brookings.edu/research/books/2010/lastexit Last Exit: Privatization and Deregulation of the U.S. Transportation System] by Clifford Winston, September 2010		* [http://www.brookings.edu/research/books/2010/lastexit Last Exit: Privatization and Deregulation of the U.S. Transportation System] by Clifford Winston, September 2010
			* [http://www.cato.org/sites/cato.org/files/pubs/pdf/tbb_067.pdf Infrastructure Investment: A State, Local, and Private Responsibility] (pdf) by Chris Edwards, January 2013
	* [http://video.foxbusiness.com/v/4304480/do-we-really-need-traffic-lights/ Do We Really Need Traffic Lights?] (video) by John Stossel, August 2010		* [http://video.foxbusiness.com/v/4304480/do-we-really-need-traffic-lights/ Do We Really Need Traffic Lights?] (video) by John Stossel, August 2010

	[[Category:Concepts]]		[[Category:Concepts]]