本文就國家政策、私設鐵路會社間的競爭與北港朝天宮的發展，說明鐵路這種新式科技與信仰兩者之間相互關係。總督府基於運輸、軍事考量鼓勵鋪設私設鐵路，並且與縱貫鐵路連結，形成廣大的交通運輸網。在國家這樣的政策下，北港地區在大正4年前後總共鋪設四條私設鐵路，這四條鐵路其設立的原因是來自於媽祖祭典時香客的運輸。但因私設鐵路運輸的客源重複性高，所以出現鐵路會社彼此之間，利用廣告、減價、派員招募的手法來爭取香客。對朝天宮而言，鋪設私設鐵路帶來的交通便利，不僅縮短前來北港參拜的時程，也增加了香客參拜的人數與次數。對於私設鐵路會社本身，龐大的香客運輸量則彌補了運輸空窗期。另外，總督府則是站在會社利益與統治成本的考量下，允許香客前往朝拜，並在祭典期間的鐵路運輸上，提供許多優惠的措施。總之，私設鐵路、朝天宮兩者因爲香客參拜產生共生的關係，總督府則因統治的需求，在兩者之間扮演推手的角色。

This article is based on national policy, rivalry between privatized railway companies and development of Pei-kang ch'ao t'ien temple to explain mutual relations between the modern technology and beliefs. Considering of transportation and military affairs, Government (The Doge's Palace) encouraged private enterprises to build railroads which were connected with the main north-south railway of Taiwan to form a massive transportation network. Under this policy, Pei-kang state had been built four railways for carrying pilgrims at Matsu's festival around 1915. In privately owned companies, sources of customers overlapped each other; therefore, they would take advantage of advertising, discounting and sending staffers to induce customers for earning more pilgrims. To ch'ao t'ien temple, convenience of this transportation did not only shorten hours of visiting Pei-kang but also increased the number and frequency of visiting people. To private railroad companies, immense pilgrimage loading capacity made up for vacant period of transportation. Besides, considering of social profits and reigning coast, Government permitted pilgrimage and offered many favorable treatments in railroad transportation. All in all, privately operated railroad companies and ch'ao t'ien temple were connected with pilgrimage. For reigning necessity, Government played a promotivrole between them.