In Germany and Holland grouping is recognised. There, as has been previously mentioned, mileage rates is the principle on which the tariffs are based, and the State practically controls the rates. But some exceptional tariffs for coal and coke are not calculated upon the distance from the place of origin to the station of destination. Sending stations in certain cases, and sea-ports in others, are formed into groups. In Germany, for instance, the sending stations included in the exceptional tariff with Bremen, Hamburg, and other ports in the North of Germany, are divided into seven groups. The first three embrace all the stations in the Right Rhenish district where coal mines exist. Group 1 contains about fifteen stations from 6 to 24 kilometres distant from each other, in a total distance of 245 kilometres to Bremen and 359 kilometres to Hamburg. Group 2 contains about thirty-five stations from 1 to 19 kilometres distant, and Group 3 seven stations at distances varying from 1 to 13 kilometres. The total distances to Bremen and Hamburg are 271 and 385 kilometres respectively. For all stations in the same group there is one tariff, which is for one fixed consignment per week:-- Group 1 ... ... 49 marks per ton. ” 2 ... ... 50 ” ” ” 3 ... ... 51 ” ” If there are two fixed consignments sent regularly every week for one year, a reduction is made of one mark for every 10 tons, and for 3 Consignments weekly a reduction of 2 marks for every 10 tons. 4 ” ” ” 3 ” ” 5 ” ” ” 4 ” ” 6 ” ” ” 5 ” ” The coal stations of the Rhine Province and Westphalia are also grouped for Dutch, Belgian and French traffic. In the two last cases, however, the differences of distance are very slight. For Dutch traffic the differences of distance between the stations in Group 1 vary from 1 to 16 kilometres in a total distance of 218 kilometres, in Group 2 from 3 to 20 in a total distance of 233 kilometres, and in Group 3 from 1 to 33 in 265 kilometres. The grouping of the ports in the North of Germany, shows a much greater difference in favour of certain ports. For instance, the same rates are charged from the coal stations to Bremen as to Hamburg, although the former is 114 kilometres (71 miles) further; the distance from Dortmund to Bremen being 237 kilometres (147 miles), and to Hamburg 351 kilometres (218 miles.) The same rates are also charged to the following ports as to Bremen, which is distant from the various coal stations from 221 to 271 kilometres:-- Kilometres. Miles. Bremerhafen 66 41 beyond Bremen. Geestemünde 62 38½ ” ” Harburg 103 64 ” ” Hittfeld 94 58 ” ” Nordenhamm 40 25 ” ”