A good example of this was seen in the excellent mail service,
which the national government conducted much more satisfactorily than it
could have been done by private enterprise.
"The local governments, also, had full control of the highways and bridges
and the common schools, hospitals, etc., while in large communities, at
great expense, they stored and distributed water for domestic and other
purposes. As the people had received undoubted benefits from this state of
things, there were few to object to it, and even their objection was more
for theoretical than practical reasons. It is not strange, therefore, that
as the troublous times approached these functions of the state should be
multiplied. Besides the gain in convenience and in cost that thus came to
the people, they began to rely on the strong arm of the government for
protection from the uncertainties and interruptions incident to private
control of many kinds of business.
"As the telegraph and telephone came into more general use the government
found it necessary to add their facilities to the mail service, in order
to give the people the best means of communication.
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