Carrier

in literature, one who conveys parcels. In Dickens' Cricket on the Hearth, the carrier with his cart makes daily trips, executing errands and carrying parcels for a small charge. When Carlyle was at the University of Edinburgh the weekly carrier was entrusted with oatmeal, cheese, and clean linen from the Annandale home. In Great Britain and on the continent the private carrier has been superseded by the carts of the government parcel post. Scarce a rural highway is without its post wagon. The postman collects and delivers boxes, packages, parcels, and baskets, at a nominal charge--scarce a fraction of our express costs--not to mention the convenience to rural sections, such as our private express companies do not reach at all. It is thought by many that our rural free delivery postal routes may develop into a parcel post service.

In law, any individual or company that undertakes to carry for pay is called a common carrier. A common carrier, as a railroad or steamboat, must carry for all who can pay the charge, and may be held responsible for needless delay or damage to goods in transportation. The same principles apply to passenger service.

See Act Of God