72 TEN YEAES IN SWEDEN. 



finished, and is, I believe, in the hands of some Englishmen. 

 In 1863, the main line from Gothenburg to Stockholm, 

 forty -two and a hah Swedish miles, was finished at a cost of 

 34,654,285 rqr. (or about 2,000,000 English pounds for 280 

 English miles), and the traffic on this line during its first 

 year has been considerable. It is contemplated to form a 

 branch line from Malmo in the very south of Sweden through 

 the country to join this main line about half way between 

 Gothenburg and Stockholm. This branch is already com- 

 pleted from Malmo to Falkoping (about fourteen Swedish 

 miles), and it is expected that in 1866 the whole line will be 

 complete. Another branch is in progress from Arvika, a 

 little town which lies north-west of the Wener, a few miles 

 from the Norwegian frontier, to join the main line .also, and 

 to pass through Wermland by Carlstad and Christinehamn. 

 This will scarcely be completed under three years, but 

 when these two branches are finished an excellent line of 

 communication will be opened throughout Sweden, and no- 

 thing in my opinion will tend to develope the resources 

 of this country so much as railroads. Already diligences 

 run from Carlstad and other towns to meet the main line, 

 and travelling in Sweden will soon be very different to 

 what it was in the glorious old days of conveyance by the 

 peasants' carts, one Swedish mile per hour, and about one 

 hour to wait for each fresh relay of horses. 



The time occupied between Gothenburg and Stockholm 

 by the quick train is about eleven hours, for 280 English 

 miles, including stoppages. The fares are 1st class, 31 rqr. 

 95 6; 2nd class, 21 rqr. 30 6 3rd class, 10 rqr. 65 6. 



These three railways are all government works, but there 

 is a private line from Fahlun to Gefle, about eight Swedish 

 miles, which pays better than any other. 



Telegraph wires are fixed all through the country, even 

 up to Haparanda. 



The post in Sweden is excellently conducted, and even 

 in the days of old, when the bags were carried throughout 

 the whole land by a single postillion in a peasant cart, mail 

 robberies were not so often heard of as might have been 



