STEAM ON COUNTRY ROADS. 239 
All these are signs that by slow degrees matters are tend- 
ing towards some such schemeas has been hcre 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—thcy 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 canot 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 tothe 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 interna] 
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. 
