The utilization ratio between passenger and cargo was due to the fact that there wasn't adequate preparation to handle cargo and there wasn't enough freight to carry just after the Meiji Restoration Period, when no modern day industries were yet fully developed.
また旅客と貨物の比率について、鉄道側に貨物運用の準備不足もあったが、明治維新直後で近代産業が未発達な時期であり「運ぶ荷物がなかった」事も考えられる。