done to bring the American railroad to its present high plane of efficiency, have been led into a somewhat unfair attitude.
Of the 609,994 miles of road in the world, which is the mileage as of 1908, nearly 40 per cent, or 233,468 miles, were in the United States. The railroad-mileage operated has grown from 159,272 in 1890, to 239,652 in 1910. The number of employees of railroads has grown from 750,017 in 1890 to 1,502,823 in 1909, and there are at least 1,000,000 holders of securities. These 2,500,000 owners and employees represent about 10,000,000 of our population, and their rights should be considered and protected just as much as those of other classes of people.
In the United States the railroads have lowered their rates, largely by voluntary action, about 25 per cent since 1888, but the tons of freight carried have increased 257 per cent, the mileage of freight-trains 80 per cent, and the average haul per ton in miles 14 per cent. The lowering of rates saves the shipper $1 out of every $4 he formerly paid, and on the ton-
