On Sunday, May 17, 2015 at 7:00:35 PM UTC-4, Adam H. Kerman wrote:   
      
   > Do pretend that there were no interurbans, and that New York to Buffalo   
   > wasn't served by 8 railroads, Chicago to St. Paul by five, Chicago to   
   > St. Louis by 4, etc.   
      
   While some interurbans had very long runs, most passengers were travelling   
   much shorter distances.   
      
   As to New York and Buffalo, who were the eight railroads serving the two   
   points?   
      
   In any event, in the days of the robber barons, there wasn't a free market or   
   competition.  The big boys (i.e. JP Morgan et al) regulated the industry.    
   Rates were set in collusion, with secret rebates to favorite parties.  The   
   owners drained the    
   railroads of stock for selfish purposes (i.e. Gould).  Railrods refused to put   
   on needed safety improvements until forced to by the government.   
      
   --- SoupGate/W32 v1.03   
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