69 



lf> % of ihe population is employed by the large railways. 

 In many parts of the country the population is often 

 entirely dependent on the railways for almost every 

 thing; it consumes. This, while in itself somewhat ano- 

 malous for an agricultural country, is nevertheless not 

 to be cited as an example of the backwardness of the 

 general state of such parts; the same phenomenon was 

 observed in such a progressive land as the U.S.A. at a 

 certain stage of development, and it is far from being 

 prejudicial except where it tends to be a chronic state. 

 It leads to statistics incidentally showing a greater ton- 

 nage transported per capita than elsewhere, and sup- 

 posedly contributes to making railways possible. 



Railway's exist for transport and by transport 

 they exist. The first part is generally remembered by 

 the public, which, however, often forgets the second, 

 and expects the railways to accomplish miracles in the 

 way of facilities never required of other branches of 

 industry. On the other hand at times the proprietors 

 of the railways or, better said, their employees, take it 

 for granted that these who do use the railways do so 

 because it suits their convenience more than that of 

 the owners of the lines and therefore have no particu- 

 lar grounds for complaining whatever they get, on the 

 principle of if you don't like it go elsewhere. 



RAILWAYS AND PROGRESS. 



Although it is assumed with good reason that 

 the development of the country has been largely 

 due to the extension of the railways, none the less this 

 has been equally contributed to by those who have 

 responded by providing articles to permit the railways 

 a continued existence. 



The confidence of the investor in railways has been 

 coincident with that of the user, or client, and there- 

 fore it is useless to require of the railways what the 

 customers are riot prepared to appreciate and to pay 

 for; the efficiency of the railways depends equally on 

 both parties and the attitude they assume towards each 

 other, whether of confidence or mistrust. Railway de- 

 velopment has had to adapt itself to the needs of a new 

 and rapidly growing country. A large part of this 

 country was first made < valuable, (that is to say, pro- 

 ductive and capable of settlement) by the railways, 

 which in turn were treated with every inducement to 

 push their investments, both by the Government and 

 by the proprietors of the lands where the rails were 

 eventually laid. Naturally a vigorous policy of invest- 



