The Life of Sir Rowland Hill and the

68 LIFE OF SIR ROWLAND HILL. [1847
The following advantages, among others, would, I
expected, result from the proposed arrangements :
1. It would secure the cheap conveyance of the
mails, and greatly promote the extension and perfection
of the system of Post Office distribution.
2. It would secure the establishment of moderate
fares, without resorting to competition, which it is now
generally admitted would be as injurious to the public
as to the companies.
3. It would secure the completion of the railway
system at the least expenditure of capital, and in a
manner most conducive to economy in working.
4. It would repress rash and unprincipled specu-
lation ;
and
5. It would relieve Parliament from the drudgery of
investigating hastily-devised and useless projects.
As regards the interests of the companies, I pointed
out that
1. It would relieve them from the ruinous expenditure
now necessary to defend their property from
aggression.
2. It would enable them to take advantage of the
cheapness of labour or materials, and abundance of
to extend the ramifications of their
capital, gradually
lines to all places capable of affording a remunerative
traffic.
And, finally, ft would greatly benefit both the public
and the companies, by enabling the directors and other
officers to devote their time and energy (now mainly
absorbed in Parliamentary contests) to the internal
management of their affairs, thus conducing to economy,
and to the comfort and safety of their passengers.
All these important results, I was of opinion, would
be obtained without any sacrifice on the part
public or of the companies.
of the