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Railroads carry 43 percent of the nation’s freight as measured by the ton-mile, according to their trade group, the Association of American Railroads.

The cost of freight per ton-mile fell from 23/100 cent in 1887 to 8/100 cent in 1898; since then the rate has slightly risen, but keeps well below 1/10 cent per ton-mile.

It is useful and necessary, and plays somewhat the same part in economic 905 investigation as ton-mile statistics do in the administration of a railway.

Where railways have no water-borne competition they have charged shippers five times as much, computed on a cents per ton-mile basis, as they charged in areas where they had to compete.

Air freight's big millstone is still its expense: rates average a costly 11.1� per ton-mile v. only 1.3� by rail and 6.3� by truck.