[104] The General Prussian Railway Law of 1838 (S. 44) under which many of the Prussian railways were constructed, expressly declared that “no railway running in the same direction as the first one between the same principal points shall be allowed to be constructed by any undertakers other than the undertakers of the first railway, within a space of 30 years from the opening of such railway, provided that improvements of the communications between the points and in the same direction by other means shall not be interfered with.” In Belgium there is practically no such competition as exists in this country. The Government have had to face the difficult questions respecting it: they have solved them in a manner different from that adopted here. They have entered into an agreement for the division of competitive traffic between the State railways and the Grand Central Belge. Under this arrangement the route over which the traffic is conveyed is credited with the whole of the terminals, and 50 per cent. of the carrying receipts. The remaining 50 per cent. is apportioned between the two competing routes on the following basis, viz:-- Each route is credited with 25 per cent. if the mileage is equal. The longest route is credited with 22½ per cent. if the mileage does not exceed the shortest route by 5 per cent. 18 ” ” ” ” 10 ” ” 13½ ” ” ” ” 15 ” ” 9 ” ” ” ” 20 ” ” 4½ ” ” ” ” 25 ” ” The route selected by either the State railways or the Grand Central Belge must not exceed the distance by the shortest route by more than 25 per cent.; above which limit all competition ceases. In Germany exist arrangements practically amounting to a division of traffic. For instance, the shortest route from Elberfeld to Bâle is viâ Coblenz-Strasburg. The traffic to Bâle is carried every alternate month by the Right Rhenish route over the Badisch State railway, and by the Left Rhenish route over the Alsace-Lorraine railways. As regards traffic with Austria-Hungary arrangements are made which ensure to each line a certain percentage. In the event of the returns showing that one company have not carried their fixed share, they are entitled to a money compensation.