610 POST-OFFICE, ROADS, AND CONVEYANCE. 



moment when the nation is labouring under all the evils incident to 

 its having reached the limits of population, and when there is an im- 

 perative necessity for the adoption of some practical measure of relief, 

 if we take a cursory review of the political advantages that will 

 arise from the adoption of the Proposal. 



" It will become then a source of national wealth : 



" 1st By enabling Government to reduce taxation. It is difficult 

 to form an estimate of what the profit may be upon the capital in- 

 vested in tramways, and locomotive carriages. The data afforded by 

 working Mr. Hancock's steam omnibus for the six weeks that it 

 plied for hire last summer, between the Bank and Islington, as given 

 in the Journal of Steam Transport,* shows a profit of upwards of 80/. 

 per cent. Colonel Macerone, from the outlay incurred in running 

 his steam carriage in various trips, amounting to about 2,000 miles, 

 calculates upon even a higher return. The trifling expense of laying 

 down tramways, and the great decrease which they will occasion on 

 the tear and wear of machinery, and the further perfection of loco- 

 motive vehicles, renders it highly probable that, besides reducing 

 fares, a clear profit of at least 50/. per cent, will arise upon the capital 

 embarked. In addition to this will be added the saving which will 

 be effected, if Government takes up the proposal, in the maintenance 

 of roads ; the annual average charge for which, in England and 

 Wales, is calculated to amount to the enormous rate of 50/ per mile, 

 and which good economy will materially reduce. From these two 

 sources of revenue, with that of the Post-office combined, it is per- 

 haps not too much to say, that an annual revenue of from six to ten 

 millions will ultimately arise from the adoption of the Proposal for 

 the relief of taxation. 



2nd It will admit of the reduction of the poor rates. 



It has been well remarked by an Hon. Member, in speaking of the 

 poor rates, that their administration is one main cause of whatever 

 distress is prevalent amongst the working classes. It may be equally 

 with truth said that their mismanagement has been the cause of their 

 fearful increase. Had they been given in the shap3 of work instead 

 of that boon for idleness, money, their burden would have been com- 

 paratively unfelt. As it is, after making provision for the aged and 

 infirm, there is an available sum of 6,000,000/. yearly, which may be 

 made over to Government, to be applied in preparing the roads for 

 the introduction of locomotive conveyance, in exchange for the re- 

 moval of some -of those taxes which press exclusively upon agricul- 

 ture. Their application in this way would shortly be twice blest to 

 rate-payers, for it would relieve them of taxation, and that by a way 

 which would make the poor rates in a short time effect their own 

 extinction. 



3rd It will cheapen food. 



" The sweeping away of the 600,000 horses which, it is calculated, 

 are exclusively employed in mail coaches, stages, and draught, will 

 feed nearly five millions of people ; whilst the further extension of 

 steam to purposes of husbandry would have the effect of adding, as 



* Published by Smith and Elder, Cornhill. 



