Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1856-01-25


to realize fully the greatness Of the
change that has taken place. Not only
we're our ancestors without the means Of
rapid transit from point TO point, a ceutu-
ry ago, but such facilities as they possess
ed we're rendered nearly useless, by the
want of roads. Even in Europe, with
the exception of a few military roads,
there we're no channels of commuuica-
ton between distant places, save by wa
ter. Such roads As they had we're ina
practicable, and the constant recurrence
Of desolating wars diverted the minds of
both princes and people from this most
important element of civilization Ar
thur Young, who travelled in Lancashire,
England, in I77o, has incidentally given
an account of the state of one of these
roads at that time, and his descripf.yn
will answer for many other roads, both Of
England and the continent. Our own
country was scarcely born, and of course
had no roads of any extent. Young
says: Il know not in the whole range Of
language, terros sufficiently expressive to
describe this Internal road. Let me most
seriously caution all travellers who may
accidentally propose to travel this terri
ble country, to avoid It IS you would the
devil, for thousand to one, they will
break their necks or limbs by overthrows
or breaking down. They viii meet with
ruts, which l actually measured, four feet
deep, and floating with mud only from a
wet summer. What therefore must it be
after a winter? I passed three carts bro
ken down within three miles of exeCra-
BE memory"
The time consumed by common car
riers over such routes is, nowadays, IN
credible. The postman from Selkjrk TO
Edinburgh, distance of less than forty
miles, was always fortnight in going
and returning. We are told that the
massacre Of the Jews in London, at the
coronation of Richard the First, was not
known at Stamford, Norwich, or York,
until several months had elapsed Even
as late as 1885, there were only seven
coaches that ran daily from the capital Of
England to that of Scotland, and until
several years within the present century,
the internal transport of nearly all tie
trade of Great Britain was performed 6y
wagons, at the slowest rate, and at an
: enormous expense. The charge for car
= riage averaged about thirty cents a ton,
5 per mile. OF course, all bulky articles
: were excluded from exchange. These
articles are now carried over the same
i ground, the same distance, at the rate Of
two cents per ton. The speed Of the
4 wagons. then, did not exceed twenty-four
miles day; steam cars now run thirty
5 miles the hour.
In our own country, quite as marked
3 changes have taken place, within the
: same period. How queer it sounds, 10
read that when Franklin, in 1854, pro-
t jeeted q plan of union for these colonies.
with Philadelphia as the metropolis, he
. gave as a reason for this part Of the plan.
e that Philadelphia was situated about half
way between the two extremes, and
could be conveniently reached, even from
Portsmouth, New Hampshire, in Is days
Now, the journey may be made in less
than twice as many hours. On the 8tE
of June, 1771, John Adams made tie
= following entry in his diary, at Middle
town, Conn; Looking into the almanac
| am startled. Supreme Court at Ips-
wich on the 18th day Of June. Thought
it was a week later, 25th; so that have
only next week to 60 home, one hundred
and fifty miles. ! must improve every
moment. II is twenty-five miles 4 day, Il
! ride every day next week" Think Of
: such a man as John Adams being startled
at the idea Of having only a week 10
travel a hundred and fifty miles! But
there was nothing strange about it in
those days. For years, after the begin-
ming Of the present century, the mail time
between New York and Albany was S
days. Emigrants to the Genesee Val
ley, only twenty years ago, were somc-
times twenty days in reaching their new
j purchases. Theirs is a book still ext;lnt,
written by a lady, within the memory Of
middle-aged persons, TO describe peril
Gus journey she made from Boston 10
> New York. Similar instances might be
. adduced without end, in illustration Of tie
% surprising Improvements which have been
made in he means Of locomotion, within
quarter Of a ccntury.-Bels England
Farmer.
J. VINO SAID Ir.-We do not know who
3 said this Good hing " People who sup,
nose that "a GOOD r,r,s..r- q, - A.. i.