Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 22.djvu/605

Rh each case. While, on the Massachusetts roads, the average annual tonnage is thirteen per cent more, the earnings are nineteen per cent more, and the average difference in rates is of a cent more than on the Central Pacific system.

This brings us to the unexpected conclusion that, had the rates charged by the Central Pacific prevailed with the Massachusetts roads, it would have effected an annual saving to that State of $786,923, and this, notwithstanding the fact that the through, freight, upon which the lowest rates always prevail, was fifty-eight per cent of the whole traffic in Massachusetts, while upon the Central Pacific it was but thirty-nine per cent.

It may be of interest to bring the affairs of this great corporation home to its own State, and see how it compares there with other roads which are independent of it.

In California, in 1878 (the last year for which statistics have been published), there were 1,170 miles of road, of which 844 miles were controlled by the Central Pacific, and 326 miles were of small roads, none of which were of sufficient magnitude to create envy or gain the appellation of monopoly. The average rates of eleven of these shorter roads, representing 248 miles, are stated by the State Commissioner of Transportation, from whose report I take the following figures:

 Table of Rates on Railroads not controlled by the Central Pacific Railroad Company, reported by the Commissioner of Transportation of California, for the Year 1878.