Full resolution (JPEG) - On this page / på denna sida - X. Internal Communications - 3. Country Roads. By C. E. Gyllenberg
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630
x. internal communications.
On the high-roads, there exists a regular posting system, so that
travellers can be sure of getting a horse and carriage against fares fixed by
law. The total number of posting stations amounted at the end of 1910
to 1 512, the average distance between them being about 25 kilometers.
On an average, a conveyance with one horse costs 18 ore per kilometer,
but the cost varies considerable at different stations. An institution that,
since far distant times, has been connected with posting is that of country
inns.
In the earliest times, nearly every traveller drove his own horse and tried to get
night-quarters with the clergymen or the peasants; and time-honoured hospitality,
was willingly granted — with or without payment — to wayfarers. But
with the rising power of the gentry and the clergy, their claims on the
generosity of the peasantry also grew, and, as early as in the 13th century,
taking by violence from the peasant what he did not give voluntarily (so-called
forced quarters) had become so common a custom that legislation had to
interfere. By an ordinance issued at Alsnö about 1280, king Magnus Ladulås
forbade the taking of forced quarters, and it was enacted that in every village
there should be an innkeeper or farm-steward, who, against reasonable payment
and under strict responsibility, was bound to provide wayfarers with what they
required. Among those who travelled on State business it became more and
more customary during the Kalmar Union (1389—1523) to enjoy food and
lodgings gratuitously, and king Gustavus Vasa (1523—60) sanctioned by law
the transport for the Crown, i. e., the duty of the peasants to convey
gratuitously, the royal family and members of the Court (king’s post), troops and
military munitions (transport for the Crown, proper), and prisoners (prison post).
Modifications in the duty of transport for the Crown were often proposed, but
it was not until 1689 that payment was stipulated for all kinds of transport
for the Crown, with th£ exception of prison post, which continued to be
carried on gratuitously until 1734.
During all this time, the institution of country-inns had been dealt with by
several ordinances. In 1561, a tax was imposed for the establishment of
country inns, where horses had to be kept in readiness to be hired against a
fixed rate of payment by those travellers who were not entitled to be conveyed
by Crown post. In 1584, it was enacted that the country Constables should
also be innkeepers; a scale of payment was drawn up for victuals, fodder, etc.,
and the innkeeper was granted exemption from taxes on his farm. In 1593,
a fixed rate of posting charges was for the first time prescribed for all travellers.
During the 17th century, the establishment of country inns at distances of, at
most, 2 Swedish miles (about 12 Eng. miles) from each other, was encouraged
by granting several privileges and advantages to the owners; e. g., assistance from
the hundred in building the house, grants of parcels of land out of the
common-lands, exemption from taxes, and the monopoly within a certain district of
selling beer, wine, and spirits.
According to the inn-regulations of 1734, the governor of the län had to
decide where inns should exist, and the farms were bound to undertake their
upkeep, etc., in return for privileges fixed by law (innkeepers’ privileges). But
at the same time the duty of keeping1 a relay of post-horses continued to be
a considerable burden. As early as 1633, Crown-tenants and farmers that
lived at some distance from the high-roads were enjoined to have horses in
readiness at the disposal of the innkeepers (constables) for 4 days at a time
(tenants of the nobility only for 2 days). As soon as these horses were
taken, notice was given for as many more as were needed to be sent by
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