In Germany the whole amount paid by the railways for rates and taxes in the same year was £261,221, together with a State tax of £26,209, paid under the head of “tax on profits,” by the independent and semi-independent companies only, and not by the State railways. This made a total for the year of £287,430. The railway companies in Holland do not pay any rates and taxes, except a license duty to the State of 2 per cent. on the dividends paid to the shareholders. Indeed, Article No. 8 of the Convention of the 24th and 25th May, 1876, for the working of the State railways by the Dutch Company, stipulates that the railways shall be exempt during the period of the Concession, from all Government taxation or payments to towns or parishes. In France the condition of things is different.[79] Although there is no taxation on merchandise traffic, the payment in respect of passenger and _grande vitesse_ traffic, which is added to and levied with, the railway charges, is heavy, and amounted in the year to £4,683,937. The other taxes paid by the railway companies themselves, or by the holders of shares, &c., amounted to £1,490,415, making together a total for the year of £6,174,352.[80] [79] See “Aucoc, Cours d’Administration,” vol. 3, p. 345. [80] The taxes in France consist of:-- 1. A duty of frs. 23·20 per cent. on passenger fares and _grande_ _vitesse_ traffic, added to the railway charges, amounting to £3,436,164. 2. A stamp duty of 35 cents. on “_recépissés_” and 70 cents. on consignment notes, also charged in addition to the rates, amounting to £1,116,588. 3. A stamp duty of 10 cents, for every receipt of 10 frs. and above, amounting to £60,328. 4. A charge of 15 cents. for postage of advice note of arrival of goods, amounting to £70,857. 5. A tax of 10 frs. per kilometre for double lines and 5 frs. per kilometre for single lines, plus 5 per cent. on the value of the premises occupied by Agents, and 2 per cent. on warehouses, workshops, &c. 6. License, excise, stamp, customs, and bond duties. 7. A tax of 120 to 150 frs. per kilometre worked, for the expense of auditing and superintendence. 8. A stamp duty on shares and bonds of 1 per cent. of the nominal capital. 9. An income tax of 3 per cent. on interest and dividends. Such are a few of the differences in the position and rights of English and Continental railways, and those who depreciate the former should explain whether they wish to adopt all the practices of foreign lines--the features unfavourable to traders as well as the advantages, slow transit, very limited liability for loss of goods or damages to them, and exemption from fiscal burthens which English railways bear--and how the cost of working, especially in the item of wages, can be reduced. SECTION XIV. HIGH RATES AND THEIR EFFECT ON TRADE.