6 THE RAILWAYS AND AGRICULTURE 



facilitate exports — particularly to Great Britain 

 — by conceding specially low rates for agricul- 

 tural produce or ordinary merchandise going 

 abroad, while the rates to inland towns were 

 substantially higher ; though the great French 

 railway companies need have less fear about 

 giving low rates for exports, considering that 

 their payment of interest is guaranteed by the 

 State. I found in Holland that the railway 

 rates are low mainly because inland water com- 

 petition exists there to an extent unknown in 

 any other country in Europe. Finally I found 

 in Denmark that the State reduced the rates 

 on its lines of railway in 1897 owing to an out- 

 cry on the part of the agriculturists. They 

 learned that there was actually a profit of 2 per 

 cent, being made on the railways, and this 

 profit, they declared, ought to be returned to 

 the "people." But under the altered conditions 

 thus brought about the lines have since barely 

 paid their way, and the rates had, consequently, 

 to be raised again, the new tariff' coming into 

 force on July 1st, 1903. 



On these and many other similar points there 

 is much that might be said as to the absolute 

 impracticability of making fair comparisons be- 

 tween British and Continental railways, and I 

 hope to have the opportunity of discussing them 



