Special methods to induce traffic.

The total number of passenger journeys made by train was over two hundred thousand more than last year, and the tonnage of goods and livestock was 7,600,000 tons, or three hundred thousand tons more than the railways have ever previously carried in one year.

Naturally, this improvement in the quantity of business handled has not come about by mere chance. Some has been due to the good season for primary products, but much of the increase can be traced directly to the special methods adopted to create new traffic and attract previously existing business to the rail. Although the general tariff has been maintained without material alteration, special use has been made of its cheap rate provisions in the arrangement of excursions of various kinds, and where the circumstances warranted variation from the standard freight rates to serve important lines of goods, the necessary changes have been made.

But most important of all in building up business has been the spirited manner in which the staff generally have responded to the opportunities afforded for making the service pleasing to clients and their keenness in watching for chances to secure traffic.