THE CONSTRUCTION AND FORMATION
Primeval state of Society-Improving the natural resources of a CountryAncient Canals, &c.-Count Platon's description of passing rapids in Sweden -Policy of the Romans in establishing roads-Roman roads, and system of making them-Wooden railroads-British, Scotch, and Irish Canals-Facilities of railroads-Resistance to the motion of carriages on railroads, and boats on canals- Advantages and disadvantages of canals-Performance of horses on railways and canals-Turnpike-roads-Interest for the capital invested in railways-Railways improving the land contiguous to themImpositions practised upon railway companies, &c. &c.
In a rude state of society, we may reasonably infer, that man would have little either to barter or to dispose of; consequently, at that period, any other mode of conveyance than that of his own animal power, was unregarded; and we have presumptive evidence, which will scarcely admit of a doubt, that the improving the natural resources of every country has been both the cause and effect of civilization: they have, therefore, invariably progressed simultaneously.