84 Meyer—Adjustment of Railroad Rates in Prussia., 
tions apply only to primary railroads. 22 Secondary roads may, 
during the first eight years of their existence, raise or lower 
rates to meet their own desires, provided they do not go above 
a certain maximum prescribed by the minister for that period of 
time; and provided further that their rates do not conflict with 
the general principles of rates enforced on state lines. But in 
no case can these concessions invalidate the general supervisory 
right of the state. The rates on local 23 roads are provided for 
in the law of July 28, as follows: That authority upon which 
the approval 24 of the project devolves is required to make an 
agreement with the undertaker as to time-tables and rates, and 
the periods of time in which such agreements shall be subjected 
to revision, provided that the undertaker may be allowed to 
establish his own rates during the first five years, and that 
22 Prussian railroads are classified as : 
A. State ) Which may f 1. Primary (Haupt-Vollbahnen.) 
or [• be either: 2. Secondary (Neben-Sekundarbahnen.) 
B. Private. ; I 3. Local (Kleinbahnen.) 
^ 4. Private branches (Privatanschlussbahn- 
I en.) 
I 5. Isolated private roads not operated by 
^ machines. 
Objectively considered, there are no important differences between 
primary and secondary roads. Both classes have tracks of normal 
width, use similar cars and engines ; but they differ in equipment, cor¬ 
responding to differences in the intensity of the traffic. Secondary roads 
have fewer and slower trains, a smaller percentage of brakes to axles, 
etc. They are subject to different operating regulations and different 
laws in their relations to the postoffice, rate schedules, etc. The law of 
November 3,1838, recognizes only primary and secondary roads. Local 
roads, legally created by the law (Gesetz fiber Kleinbahnen und Pri- 
vatanschlussbahnen) of July 28,1892, are not “railroads” within the 
scope of the law of 1838, and hence not subject to the provisions of gen¬ 
eral railway legislation. Local roads are placed into the same cate¬ 
gory with ordinary businesses, and as such subject to the Gewerbe- 
ordnung. If, however, at any time, in the opinion of the Staatsminis- 
terium (§ § 30-38, law of 1892) any local road attains such a degree o f 
importance in public traffic that it may be regarded as a part of the gen¬ 
eral network of railroads, the state may, on payment of the full value 
of such a road, and after one year's notice, add the said road to its own 
system of railroads. A further discussion of the classification of 
Prussian railroads would lead us too far from the main subject. 
28 §§ 14 and 21, law of July 28,1892. 
24 § 2, law of 1892. 
