The following rather neat parody, which appeared in a London evening
paper at the time of the passing of the Light Railways Act, expresses a
very reasonable doubt, in which I fully share, as to the specially
beneficial effect of the measure on agriculture. Fortunately, the Act has
been taken very quietly, and such schemes as have been promoted will, for
the most part, be of considerable general advantage. Certainly there are
some cases in which farmers would be the gainers by a light railway, but
these are an infinitesimal proportion of their whole number.