The object of the publishers of the Year Book of Railway Literature is to put annually into permanent form all papers or addresses on the public relations of railways, appearing or being delivered during the year, which seem to have enduring value. The first volume of such a publication must necessarily be in some respects open to criticism. It is probable that articles have been omitted for which a place should have been found. It will also be noticed that matter is included which was published before the beginning of the year 1897. The publishers believe, however, that as the volume stands it has unquestionable value. Moreover, that value will be cumulative with each succeeding yearly volume. Satisfactorily to meet the ends for which it was designed, it was especially desirable that the Year Book should be fully and intelligently indexed. Attention is called to the index. to this volume, which has been compiled with a view to making as accessible as possible all matters contained in the various articles bearing on the greater problems which confront railway companies to-day--such problems as are connected with pooling, employes and their wages, falling rates, traffic associations, two-cent passenger fares, taxation, the capital invested in railways and its productiveness, etc., etc. The index is designed to be as helpful as possible to the seeker for information on these and kindred topics. Thanks are owing to the authors of the various papers for the assistance which they have rendered to the editor in the preparation of their matter for publication, and also to the publishers of the Forum, the North American Review, the Engineering Magazine and the Railway Magazine, for permitting the republication, from their pages, of copyrighted articles. Their courtesy is gratefully acknowledged. H. P. R. |