RAILWAYS. 



79 



Another aspect of the development of the traffic of the Irish Railway 

 systems is shown in the following statements. 



A. — Statement showing the Passenger Traffic, arranged according to Classes, 

 on Irish Railways in the years 1871, 1891, and 1900. 



B. — Statement showing the Goods Traffic on Irish Railways in the years 1871 and 1900. 



The decline in First and Second Class passenger traffic, and the increase 

 in Third Class passenger traffic are remarkable. In regard to the column in 

 the Statement A. showing the " Number of Passengers per Mile of Lines 

 open," it ought to be borne in mind that the mileage of Irish railways 

 increased between 1871 and 1900 from 1,988 in the former year to 3,183 

 ill the latter, while on the other hand, the population decreased in the same 

 period from 5,412,377 in 1871 to an estimated population of 4,466,326 in 

 1900. In fact, the column showing the " Number of Journeys per head of 

 Population " gives the more correct idea of the expansion of the Passenger 

 Traffic on Irish railways at the different periods. 



Still more instructive, perhaps, is the following comparison, in certain par- 

 ticulars, of the English Great Western system with the entire railway 

 system of this country. The comparison would be more satisfactory if an 

 estimate of the population of the districts of England and Wales served by 

 the Great Western had been available ; but as it ?tands the contrast is suffi- 

 ciently striking : — 



