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In the speculative period after the Franco-German
war the possibility was discussed in Finland of
constructing railways as private enterprises. The
government proposed to the Diet to sell their railways to a
private company. The proposition was not accepted,
but private concessions were granted for railways to
Hangö, Borgå, and Åbo. The last was not constructed,
but the holders of the concessions for the lines
Hyvinge-Hangö and Borgå-Kervo built railways and
failed. The railroad to Hangö was then sold to the
government for about 10½ million marks, or 70,000
marks per kilometre through a length of 150
kilometres. The Borgå railway was transferred to a new
company. In 1874—76 the government itself built
the Åbo-Tavastehus-Tammerfors line, 211 kilometres,
for 19½ million marks, or 92,000 marks per kilometre.
It is only in recent times that some small private lines
have once more been built.
As in other countries, public opinion was divided
on the question whether the railways ought to be
built first in those parts of the country which most
need developing; or, on the contrary, in those which
are the richest and best populated. The intermediate
course was chosen: to begin in Southern Finland, but
to let the first lines pass the interior of the south,
where it would cost less to build and whence connections
could later be made with the ports. It would certainly
have been more advantageous to begin connecting the
towns on the coast, notwithstanding the larger expenses
here where the lines could not follow the ridges of
gravel and brash — the terminal moraines already
mentioned. Such lines would have been more used
and, in consequence, would have paid better. This
last view was strongly advocated by Herr Theodore
Tallqvist in Finland, and although his ideas have not
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