X 3,133,623,734 11,252,450,440 259.09 12.75 11.63 VII 2,633,860,958 9,300,234,849 253.10 11.48 9.33 VIII 6,333,591,463 17,406,430,971 174.83 10.79 9.66 III 17,587,334,609 47,994,909,002 172.89 6.05 5.98 V 6,802,119,489 17,397,321,360 155.76 8.64 8.27 VI 17,393,471,480 44,318,734,155 154.80 8.55 7.43 IX 3,165,108,561 7,546,655,555 138.43 10.40 10.51 IV 4,936,635,046 11,418,243,141 131.30 6.48 7.03 II 29,579,613,559 63,455,243,659 114.52 6.75 6.55 I 3,573,663,326 6,511,166,971 82.20 12.02 11.45 -------------- --------------- ------ ----- ----- U. S. 95,139,022,225 236,601,390,103 148.69 7.98 7.59 It will be noted from the foregoing that the group in which the average rates were highest in both 1897 and 1907 shows the most rapid increase in traffic movement and that, with few exceptions, the regions of higher rates show more rapid augmentation of ton-mileage. This is exactly what might have been anticipated, for the highest average rates are usually to be found in the regions most scantily populated and, as these regions are filling up and are therefore those most rapidly growing in population and industry, they naturally show the greatest relative increases in freight tonnage. The only notable exception is furnished by New England, a region of high development, but where traffic movement is largely of a character which imposes higher average rates. In the following table the traffic increase is given for the regions that had ton-mile rate averages above and below the average for the whole country, in 1897: Ton mileage. Increase. In 1897. In 1907. per cent. Ton mile rates above the average 43,035,439,011 113,732,994,301 164.28 Ton mile rates below the average 52,103,583,214 122,868,395,802 135.82 -------------- --------------- ------ Total 95,139,022,255 236,601,390,103 148.69 The region with rates above the average in 1897 had 45.23 per cent. of the total ton-mileage in that year, and 48.07 per cent. in the year 1907. Of the total increase in traffic movement 49.98 per cent. was in this region. The precise effect that these changes in the geographical distribution of ton-mileage would have had upon the average ton-mile rate for the whole country is shown by the computation set forth in the following table: