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 co u n try
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 th a t legislation had to
interfere. By an ordinance issued at Alsno about 1280, king Magnus Ladulas
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 (1523S§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 th a t payment was stipulated for all kinds of transport
for the Crown, with the 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.paymen| 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 lan 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 keeping a relay of post-horses continued to be
a considerable burden. As early as 1633, Crown-tenants and farmers phat
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
the people in the neighbourhood of the inn (so-called reserve post). In 1727,
an endeavour was made to get the uneven distribution of this burden equalized
by agreements entered into at. the assizes by means of so-called “post-relays ,
which had to divide the duties within their districts according to settled principles.
In general, the posting charges were, no doubt, too small a remuneration for the
trouble of keeping post-horses, for which reason the discontent and complaints never
ceased. At last, in 1810, the work was let by contract when, possible; horses were
to be held in readiness against a higher rate of payment and with the aid
of a public grant. As a rule, the innkeeper himself, or a peasant living in the
near vicinity of the inn, became the contractor; but when the number of horses
he had undertaken to keep had been taken, the obligation of the farm-owners
to provide reserve horses when wanted was once more enforced.
By the 'Statute of 1878 on posting, the land has been nearly entirely
relieved from the above-mentioned “burden”. The hire per mile is fixed
for each lan by the Government on the proposal of the Governor and the
County Council, but if, at the auction, the lowest amount for which
a solvent contractor will undertake to keep post-horses prove to exceed
the hire, the State pays half (in certain cases somewhat more) and the
County Council grants the rest, which latter contribution is laid not
only on the landed property that formerly had to bear the posting
burden alone, but also on other property or income. However, by lowering,
or refusing to grant, the contract contribution demanded, when it is
thought too high, the County Council can compel a return to the old
system of reserve post. Further, the law in question annulled a great
many dispensations from the duty of assisting' in the maintenance of the
posting' service that had been granted to several kinds of farms, benefices,
and official posts. Nevertheless* the obligation still partly remains of
transport for the Crown against a stipulated payment, differing in times
of war from that given in times of peace, and varying also for different
kinds of farms. However, nowadays this burden is imposed only exceptionally,
as the very numerous railway lines of Sweden render less and
less the necessity'- of posting, both for private people and still more for
military purposes. — Of the decrease in public posting, the figures below
hear witness; they show the annual number of post-horses sent out during
the quinquennial periods, 1856—1910:
-60............. ............. 948 000 | 1886^90............. ............. 204 124
-65............. ............. 621309 11891—95 ............. ............. 232 280
-70............. ............. 416 245 1896—00 ............. ............. 316 212
7 5 ............ ............. 585 084 1901 05 .............
-80............. ............. 379 234 1906—10 ............. . . . . 403 409
-85.............
During the last period, the number has increased again. The cause
of the decrease is, in several places, probably the high posting rates, in
consequence of which it sometimes proves cheaper to hire private conveyances.
Of the 1 512 postmg-stations that existed in 1910, the posting was carried
out at 1 376, or 91-o % of the whole, by being let to contractors. In 1880 the