342 DO THE RAILWAYS HELP THE FARMERS? 



farmers thus lost some of the profit they might 

 have made had they adopted the full policy 

 recommended to them by the railway, but by 

 taking their produce to the middleman in the 

 local markets, instead of waiting for the 

 « higglers ' : or others to call for it, they got 

 at least better prices than before. Altogether 

 the effect of the railway company's concessions 

 has been to bring about quite a little revolution 

 in certain of the markets in the West of England. 

 On the South Eastern and Chatham Railway 

 there was issued a circular giving tables of 

 exceptional rates for the conveyance of fruit 

 and vegetables from stations in the country to 

 London, these rates being exclusive of collec- 

 tion, but inclusive of delivery to Covent Garden, 

 the Borough, Farringdon, or Spitalfields markets. 

 On this circular the following announcement was 

 made : — 



Reduced Charges for large Consignments. — When a 

 sender forwards from the same station or siding to the 

 same salesman and market in London a consignment of 

 fruit or vegetables, or a consignment consisting partly 

 of fruit and partly of vegetables, and elects to lump and 

 tender such consignment at one time, the rate or rates 

 applicable to such consignment will be subject to a re- 

 duction of 10 per cent, when the aggregate weight exceeds 

 2 tons, and to 15 per cent, when the aggregate weight 

 exceeds 4 tons. 



