"Mr. Mitchell states the average rate per mile in 1873 for passengers at 3.42 cents. It was well understood that this was an average rate received from those passengers who paid anything, and that, had the average rate been obtained by using as a divisor the total number of paying passengers plus the number of those who rode free the average would have been much below three cents, the price fixed by the law, and consequently, if the company would collect the legal rate from all alike and abolish the free list, its revenues from the passenger business would be increased rather than decreased. If the same test is applied to the freight rates it becomes equally evident that this statute did not reduce the rates in Wisconsin below the average rate of 2.50 cents per ton per mile, which, according to Mr. Mitchell's statement, was the average for the year 1873. For proof, it may be stated that the law classified freight into four general classes, to be designated as first, second, third and fourth classes, and into seven special classes, to be designated as D, E, F, G, H, I and J. The rates on the four general classes were made the same as were 'charged for carrying freights in said four general classes on said railroads on the first day of June, 1873,' and the rate per ton per mile was fixed at certain rates for the first twenty-five miles, a less for the second twenty-five miles, and a fixed rate per mile after, as follows: 1st 25 Miles 2nd 25 Miles. All Over 50 Miles. D 4-4/5 cents 3-1/5 cents 1 3/5 cents. E Same as class above. F 4 cents 2 cents 1 cent. G 3-1/5 cents 2 cents 1 cent. H 4 cents 2-4/5 cents 1-3/5 cents. I 4-2/5 cents 2-2/5 cents 1-1/5 cents. J 3-1/5 cents 2-2/5 cents 1 cent.