Our notice of the monopolistic character of public utilities in discussing the nature of monopolies paves the way to an examination of the methods designed by the state to regulate them. Early in the history of the water, gas, and electric lighting industries the government exerted little control in the regulation of their rates and services. Much like the railroads, these industries undertook to conduct their business with little regard to the welfare of the people whom they served, and here again, as in the case of the railroads, the people found it necessary to impose regulations in order to protect their own interests, and, strange as it may sound, the interests of these industries. In many sections of the country the public was not easily aroused. To many the difference between a five-cent and a four-cent street-car fare was insignificant. Yet in the aggregate it mounts high. Likewise, an eleven-cent electric rate appeared to be little more than a ten-cent rate. The corporations themselves sensed the danger, but instead of correcting existing evils many of them tried to fortify their position by packing city councils with employees or friends of the management. As a result, the record of more than one American city is besmirched with every form of petty manipulation, with lobbying, and even with bribery. Fortunately, the good judgment of the people led them to see that they were the masters of the situation. The result was, and is, that conditions surrounding the services of public utilities corporations are much better than the most optimistic would have predicted a few years ago.