STEAM ON COUNTRY ROADS. 235 
es) 
The Act in question was passed at a time when stcam 
was still imperfectly understood. It was in itself a per- 
fectly judicious Act, which ought to be even more 
strictly enforced than it is. But it was intended solely 
and wholly for the regulation ofthose vast and monstrous- 
looking engines which it was at once forescen, if Icft to 
run wild, would frighten all horse traffic off the roads. 
The possibility of road locomotives in the reasonable 
sense of the term was not even in the minds of the 
framers. Yet, by a singular perversity, this: very Act 
has shut off steam from one of its most legitimate func- 
tions. 
It is quite possible that the depression of agriculture 
may have the effect of drawing attention to this subject, 
and if so it will be but tardy justice to the rest of society 
that the very calling whose engines now block the roads 
should thus in the end open them. We should then see 
goods trains passing every farm and loading at the gate 
of the field. Such a road goods train would not, of 
course, run regularly to and fro in the same stereotyped 
direction, but would call as previously ordered, and 
make three or four journeys a day, sometimes loading 
entirely from one farm, sometimes making up a load 
from several farms in succession. Besides the quick 
communication thus opened up with the railway station 
and the larger towns, the farmer would be enabled to 
work his tenancy with fewer horses. He would gct 
manures, coal, and all other goods delivered for him 
instead of fetching them. He would get his produce 
landed for him instead of sending his own tcams, men, 
and boys. In a short time, as the railways began to 
awaken to the new state of things, they would see the 
advantage of accommodating their arrangements, and 
open their yards and sidings to thcir competitor. In 
