SHIPPING 



horse, make one or two trips to Tours each 

 week. The messagers carry freight both 

 ways precisely in the same capacity as rail- 

 roads do. While the railroads are fairly 

 abundant these local agencies continue to 

 thrive because delivery can be made directly 

 to the consignee and delivery at the exact 

 time and place is more certain. The 

 enormous loads conveyed in these two-wheel 

 carts by one horse is an element in this sys- 

 tem to which the good roads of France now 

 contribute. In 1799, France had con- 

 structed 25,000 miles of roadway. Since 

 that time, over 300,000 miles of roadway 

 have been completed and about 30,000 

 miles of railway have been constructed 

 ten miles of roadway for each mile of 

 steam railway. The good roads of France 

 are of comparatively recent origin, con- 

 tributing materially to the improvement in 

 well-being which has taken place during the 

 same period. 



219 



