About a century ago, Benjamin Franklin, the Post-master-general of the American colonies by appointment of the crown, made his official inspection of the principal routes in his gig; and when holding the same office under the authority of Congress, a small folio, containing three quires of paper, lasted as his account-book for two years. Now it would require six years of incessant railroad traveling, at the rate of one hundred and twenty-five miles daily, to pass over the routes; while the post-office accounts consume every two years 3,000 of largest sized ledgers, keeping 100 clerks constantly employed in recording transactions with 30,000 contractors and others. Rev. xiii, 11.