“_L’expérience a démontré aux compagnies la nécessité de superposer au tarif réglementaire de nombreux tarifs à prix reduits.^{***} Il a été reconnu que ceux là mêmes qui se plaignaient, le plus vivement des tarifs différentiels en recueillaient indirectement le bénéfice. Ce sont, en effet, ces tarifs qui fournissent au trafic des grandes compagnies les masses de marchandises les plus considérables, et ce sont ces masses qui rendent possible la réduction, au profit de tous, des tarifs généraux._” M. DE FOVILLE. _La Transformation des moyens de Transport_ pp. 66, 67. In a report to the French Chamber of Deputies by a Railway Commission in 1880, the Commissioners approved of special tariffs, and added: “We are even inclined to suggest the development of traffic of this nature, the importance of which is not at all in proportion to the natural advantages which France derives from her geographical position and her numerous ports.” _Appendix 31 to Report from the Select Committee on Railways (Rates and Fares), 1882, Vol. II._ Take first the special rates in France. Wheat may be imported either _viâ_ Marseilles, or _viâ_ Rouen and the Seine to Paris, the distance from Marseilles being 863 kilometres, and from Rouen 134 kilometres. To compete with the sea and the Rouen route, the Paris, Lyons, and Mediterranean Railway Company charges for imported goods, special rates between Marseilles and Paris. These rates have been complained of as encouraging foreign trade. The answer, however, is that if not conveyed _viâ_ Marseilles such goods might be conveyed _viâ_ Rouen and the Seine to Paris. The general tariff rates on the French lines are based upon a uniform charge per kilometre, irrespective of any special requirements of the locality. In order, however, to remedy the disadvantages arising from such a system, and to meet the various circumstances and requirements of particular trades, numerous special tariffs are adopted with the sanction of the Minister of Public Works. These special rates are not, as is sometimes supposed, fixed upon any regular or uniform basis. Some are adopted for the purpose of developing a new, or increasing an existing trade which may be subjected to competition from other districts; others are established to meet competition by sea, canal, or otherwise. Under some circumstances reduced rates are arrived at by adopting computed instead of actual distances; the former being sometimes based on the distance by a shorter route either by rail, road or sea. But in some cases an arbitrary distance is adopted.