It is well known that train service in this country is much more frequent than in any other country. How great is the difference will be seen by comparing the average number of train miles run per mile of railway, per square mile of country, and per 1,000 people. TRAIN MILES.[59] ----+------------------+---------------+--------+------+--------------- | | PER MILE | PER SQUARE | PER 1,000 | | OF RAILWAY. | MILE. | PEOPLE. YEAR| +---------------+-------+-------+-------+------- | |Pssngr.| Goods.|Pssngr.| Goods.|Pssngr.| Goods ----+------------------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+------- 1884| United Kingdom | 7,588 | 6,715 | 1,185 | 1,048 | 3,981 | 3,523 1884| England and Wales| 9,114 | 7,991 | 2,090 | 1,832 | 4,481 | 3,929 1884| France | 4,644 | 2,792 | 415 | 250 | 2,222 | 1,336 1884| Germany | 3,997 | 2,610 | 426 | 278 | 1,971 | 1,287 1884| Holland | 4,941 | 1,752 | 600 | 213 | 1,773 | 629 1884| Belgium | 4,819 | 4,783 | 1,149 | 1,140 | 2,258 | 2,241 ----+------------------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+------ [58] Including 90 miles on German and Belgian Frontier. [59] The mixed train mileage introduces a disturbing element, but the calculations have been made as accurately as possible. In comparing the results of the working of the German and English railways, Sir B. Samuelson states in the report already quoted, that “The proportion of net to gross receipts is not unfavourable to the German lines.” He adds that “it is all the more remarkable when it is considered that the tariffs for both passengers and goods are much lower; the cost of materials, generally speaking, higher; and that large sums are in Germany defrayed out of revenue, which would here be charged to capital.”[60] The meaning, apparently, of these observations is that railways in this country ought to be worked more cheaply than in Germany; that passenger fares and merchandise rates are lower in that country, that nevertheless the receipts are satisfactory; that the rates for goods should be here reduced; and that, thereby, better results would ensue. Let us put these statements to the test of figures,[61] and, first, as to cost of working, no doubt a material element in the comparison of rates. For the year 1884 the gross receipts of all the railways in the United Kingdom and in England and Wales respectively amounted to--