If railways in England did not compete with transport by the sea they would in many cases be of comparatively little use to manufacturers and merchants. Only by such competition do they fully minister to the requirements of the trade of the country. If all the intermediate rates were to be brought down to the level of those charged between port and port what would be the result? The companies would have to raise their port to port rates. The public would lose the benefit of rail carriage for goods sent between port and port, and the companies the profit they might have derived from such goods. Who would be the gainer?[17] [17] Lines of steamers carrying Belgian, Dutch, German, and French goods and produce, run between Antwerp, Rotterdam, Amsterdam, Boulogne, Havre and London. In competition with them the Great Eastern, South Eastern, and London Chatham and Dover Companies carry _viâ_ Harwich, Folkestone and Dover respectively, at such rates as they can obtain in competition with those charged by steamer direct. It has been a subject of complaint that these goods are conveyed at lower rates than similar merchandise from places in Essex or Kent, past which they are carried by rail. No doubt the regular and quick services provided by the railway companies are of great advantage to the senders and consumers. But so far as London is concerned, a great part, if not the whole of the goods, not requiring quick transit could be sent by sea direct, if the Harwich, Dover, and other services were discontinued. There are import rates to towns in the interior to which there is no direct sea competition. If such rates are not based on the rates to places to which there is such competition, _plus_ the local rates, they may be open to question to an extent not applicable to the rates to and from ports.