For the reasons already stated, there is no small difficulty in comparing the rate of wages per day or per week. Although in this country annual allowances such as bonuses for good conduct are known, wages are, as a general rule, fixed sums per day or per week, increasing according to the importance of duties and service. On some of the Continental railways the allowances are in some instances a considerable percentage of the fixed wages.[73] The following table has been prepared from the best information that could be obtained on the subject, and it may fairly be taken as an approximate estimate of the average wages paid:--[74] [73] See Note on page 136. [74] NOTE.--There is a difference between the statements of revenue receipts and working expenses given in the “Statistische Nachrichten Von den Eisenbahnen” and those otherwise obtained, but not of a material character for the present purpose. ---------------------------+--------------+--------------- GRADE. | ENGLAND. | FRANCE. ---------------------------+--------------+--------------- Engine Drivers per day | 5/0 to 7/6 | 4/0 to 4/8 | | Firemen ” | 3/0 to 4/6 | 3/0 to 3/4 | | Guards, Passenger per week | 21/0 to 40/0 |} | |} 20/0 to 38/6 Guards, Goods ” | 22/0 to 32/6 |} | | Signalmen ” | 18/0 to 30/0 | 18/6 to 32/0 | | Porters, Passenger ” | 15/0 to 17/6 |} | |} 14/0 to 17/0 Porters, Goods ” | 18/0 to 24/0 |} | | Shunters ” | 16/0 to 26/0 | 14/0 to 17/0 | | Platelayers ” | 15/0 to 23/0 | 12/8 to 20/0 ---------------------------+--------------+---------------