STEAM ON COUNTRY ROADS. 239 



All these are signs that by slow degrees matters are tend- 

 ing towards some such scheme as has been here sketched 

 out. While local railroads are extremely expensive, slow 

 in construction, and always dominated by main lines, 

 and while tramways need rails, with the paraphernalia 

 rails require, they have this drawback — they are not 

 flexible. The engines and cars that run upon them 

 must for ever adhere to the track : there may be goods, 

 produce, ricks, cows, fruit, hops, and what not, wanting 

 to be landed only a quarter of a mile distant, but the 

 cars cannot go to the crops. The railroad is rigid, every- 

 thing must be brought to it. From town to town it 

 answers well, but it cannot suit itself and wind about 

 from village to hamlet, from farm to farm, up hill and 

 down dale. The projected road train is flexible and 

 capable of coming to the crops. It can call at the farmer's 

 door, and wait by the gate of the field for the load. We 

 have lately seen France devote an enormous sum to the 

 laying down of rails in agricultural districts, to the making 

 of canals, and generally to the improvement of internal 

 communication in provinces but thinly populated. The 

 industrious French have recognised that old countries, 

 whose area is limited, can only compete with America, 

 whose area is almost unlimited, by rendering transit easy 

 and cheap. We in England shall ultimately have to 

 apply the same fact. 



