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]
 Year  Per Mile
of Railway.		Per Square
Mile.		Per 1,000
People.
Pssngr. Goods. Pssngr. Goods. Pssngr. Goods.
1884 United Kingdom7,588 6,7151,185 1,0483,981 3,523
1884 England and Wales9,114 7,9912,090 1,8324,481 3,929
1884 France4,644 2,792415 2502,222 1,336
1884 Germany3,997 2,610426 2781,971 1,287
1884 Holland4,941 1,752600 2131,773 629
1884 Belgium4,819 4,7831,149 1,1402,258 2,241

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—

Receipts.United
Kingdom.		 England
 and Wales.
£   £  
Coaching30,030,45025,584,196
Goods and Minerals  37,670,59231,973,011
Miscellaneous 2,821,601 2,541,804
 Total70,522,64360,099,011

           United   England and
Kingdom.   Wales.
The working expenses to  £37,217,197,  £31,732,486,

or 52·77 and 52·80
per cent. respectively;
and the net receipts to . . . £33,305,446,  £28,366,525.

The gross receipts yielded an average of—

| United Kingdom. || England and Wales. |
Per Mile.Per Train
Mile.		Per Mile.Per Train
Mile.
£s. d.£s. d.
Coaching Receipts1,5924 2 1,918 4 2½
Goods and Minerals1,9975 112,3976 0

The gross receipts of all the French railways, except the small local lines, for the same year amounted to:—

Coaching £16,214,240
Goods and Minerals 24,743,480
Miscellaneous  (about)    960,000
41,917,720
The expenses to 56·45 per cent. of
 the receipts 23,662,160
and the net receipts to £18,255,560