the following figures, from the report of M. Minard, s Inspecteur
G?n?ral des Ponts et Chauss?es," in railway superiority.
In 1850, the total tonnage carried the whole distance between Paris and
the Belgian frontier by railway was .................. 2 4000 tons.
by water ....................... 956,000 r
In 1855..........by railway ........... ......... 850,000 "
by water...... ............ 1,124,000 " -
In 1858 ... .... by railway ...................... 1,350,000 "
by water....................... 1,500,000 "
Shewing an ease of t e by can increars of about 60
per cent., and by railway of nearly 600 per cent.
In 1858, the transport by water fell 20 per cent., that by railway
remained stationary, and the last ten years has rendered the differ-
ence still greater, and this, where coal and iron constitute the large ir
proportion of the merchandise.
The Paris and Strasbourg has to contend with a water commu-
nication by the Marne and the Rhine, and their canals;
and here, in eight years, the railway had increased their
receipts for merchandise four millions of francs per annum, and 3
this, notwithstanding an opposition line from Mulhouse to Paris
almost parallel with it. The Strasbourg and Mulhouse line has to
contend with the navigation of the Rhone and the Rhine, and their
connecting canal, and here the canal company have lowered their
tariff so as hardly to pay the expense of repairs and administra-
tion, the railvway, having absorbed two-thirds of all the merchandise
transported by canal.
The Paris and Lyons line has to contend with the navigation ofthe
Seine and the Yonne and the Bourgoyne Canal, and the Government
Statistics shew the following results: A part of this line was delivered,
to circulation in 1848. In 1847 the tonnage by canal was 202,688
tons-in 1850 this fell to 179,152 tons.-Later when new sections
of the railway were opened the diminution continued-in 1852 it was
reduced to 125,838 and in 1853 to 80,000 tons.-In 1854 a consi-