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330 METHODS OF SOCIAL REFORM.
although it is trno that the means of disbribution by railway
or post am in many caws highly perfected already.
Then, again, t.hcro is an immense variety of now uncomidered
trifles which would assume a new importance when
we had but to wish, as it wcre, and tho parcel was come or
gone. The new toy for some child, the bundle of old clothes
for a poor distant deI)endent, the basket of game for the
hospital, the wedding present, tho Christmas hamper, the New
Ycar'a gifGthcso would be multiplied almost like Christmas
cards, to the g"eclt iucreast. of tnlile, and tho constant delectation
of tho receivers. 'I'hc circulation aud utilidion of things
in gencrul would be rluickewd.
It may LC said indeed, that t.hcre is at present no lack of
carriers and parcel compnuics; and this is quite hue in LL.
sense. If rrnythir~g tllcre are too many, and tho result is that
they can only be Eupportcd by high RUCI repeated charges.
Let us consider what arc tho existing means for the conveyance
nud distribution of sua11 goods. In thc first, place,
almost all the milway companies receive parcels at their
stations, which they convey either by passenger or goods
trains to nuy other of their stations. In the great t,owns each
company has its own service of delivery vans which, within
certain limits of distancc, delivcr the parcels free of *further
chargo. TVhen the consignee livce beyond 11 certaiu distance, the
parcel is oftcn handod over to sonlo local carrier, mho makes a
new charge for dclivery, at his on-n discretion; or else the
railway company send their van on a, special journey, and
charge an cstmvngant price for the favour conferred, not
extravagant perhaps in regurd to the cost incurred in sending
a cart with a single small1 parcel, but extravagant in proportion
to the service performed. Tho railway companies also have
arnrngcmcnts for the exchange of parcel traffic at through
rates, and an infinite number of small debits and credits thus
arise, which have to bo liquidated through the Clearing-house.
SO oppressive did these innumerable minute accounts become,
hat the companies adopted a few years ago a summary mode
of dividing any receipts at & station which do not amount to
five shillings in n mouth