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This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1903 edition. Excerpt:... This was one of the first questions that the pioneers of New England had to answer. The best way they saw of doing it, was for those who used the roads in a small section to meet together and decide, or vote, as to what should be done. That is, they made rules or laws about the roads; then they elected men who should make it a part of their business to see that the roads were built, and that repairs were made, according to these laws. Such men were known as officers. Schools also are not owned by one person, and yet many wish to use them. Large yards, good buildings, and good teachers are all desirable; but who should provide for them? The pioneers of New England settled this matter also by voting and by electing officers to see that the schools were properly managed. Many other important matters were attended to in much the same manner. For example, there are usually some persons in every community who are liable to take things that do not belong to them, or who are noisy and quarrelsome. The pioneers passed laws in regard to such offenders and elected officers, called constables, to arrest them when necessary. Thus far we have been considering only matters which could be settled by a small group of people living near together in a village or small town (Fig. 81). But there are some matters that cannot be settled in this manner, because other people, living far away, are also interested in them. For example, the managers of a railway company may charge too much for passengers and freight. In such cases laws may need to be passed, compelling them to charge reasonable rates. But as these railways are scores, or even hundreds, of miles long, the people of a single town could do very little with them. In that case it would be necessary for those...