VERY MUCH IN EARNEST 335 



give increased facilities for the transit of farm produce over 

 the railway, and the posters that will be exhibited at the 

 stations in connection with the matter, I wish to impress 

 upon you that every effort must be taken to increase this 

 business, both in the interests of the farmers and the 

 Company. The Company are prepared to put into opera- 

 tion, where they do not at present exist, low special rates 

 for regular consignments sent in fair quantities, and also 

 to, as far as possible, give an improved service to distant 

 markets. 



You should take every opportunity of notifying this 

 by personal communication with the farmers or growers in 

 your district, and all applications for particulars of the 

 rates and arrangements should be sent to your District 

 Goods Manager, with full information as to the descrip- 

 tion of produce, packing, and quantities in which it will 

 be consigned, together with the names and addresses of the 

 applicants. 



In accordance with these instructions repre- 

 sentatives of the railway company waited 

 personally on all the principal farmers, growers, 

 or producers of agricultural commodities in 

 every district within reach of the London and 

 North Western Railway where there was any 

 chance of business being got, in order to see 

 whether, by any hints they could give, any 

 assistance they could render, or any offer of low 

 rates they could make, they might help the 

 farmer, and, at the same time, bring traffic to 

 the railway. The number of personal calls thus 

 made was close on 1.000, and a considerable ex- 



