CARRIERS (ante). In the United States, common carriers are such as transport for hire for all persons indifferently. They operate both on land and water, and embrace stage-coach proprietors, railway and steamboat companies, truckmen, teamsters, express companies, etc., including owners and masters of every kind of vessel or water-craft who come before the public as the carriers of freight of any kind for whomsoever may choose to employ them. for either a long or a short voyage. Common C. are responsible for loss or damage during transportation from whatever cause, "except the acts of God, or of the public enemy." The act of God means only such inevitable accidents as occur without man's agency. The carrier is not responsible for losses occurring from natural causes, such as 'fermentation, evaporation, freezing, the ordinary decay of perishable articles, or the natural wear in the course of transportation, provided he exercises reasonable care to have such dangers as little as practicable. C. who undertake general business are bound to carry all matter that offers, under liability of legal action if they refuse without just hut any carrier may restrict his business to certain goods, in which case he is not bound to accept things out–of his line. A carrier may require payment of freight in advance; and he is entitled to a lien upon the goods for his freight and for what he advances to other carriers. But all common-law responsi bility may be qualified by special contracts. The bill of lading, or receipt for the goods, is an acknowledgment of the carrier's responsibility, and is presumed to name excep tions from responsibility if any there be. Railway companies, steamboat owners, and other C. who allow express companies to carry parcels and packages on their cars, boats, or other vehicles, are liable as common C. to the owners of the goods for loss or damage without regard to the contract between them and such express carriers. Railways, steamers, etc., carrying passengers, although not liable for injury to passengers without the C.'s fault, are responsible for the baggage of such passengers intrusted to them as common C., and the responsibility continues until the delivery of the bag gage to the owner, or to his order. The baggage-check is the same as a bill of lading
for goods, and is evidence of the responsibility assumed. Jewelry and a watch in a trunk are considered baggage, but money, beyond a reasonable amount for expenses, is not so considered. The responsibility of C. begins upon the delivery of the goods for immediate transportation. A delivery at the usual place of receiving freight, or to those employed by the company in the usual course of business, is sufficient. But where C. have a house at which they receive goods that are not to be forwarded until further order or a later time, such C. are in the mean time responsible only as depositaries; and where goods are received as by wharfingers, or warehousers, or forwarders, and not as C., liabilities are incurred only for ordinary negligence. The responsibility of the carrier terminates when, after the arrival of the goods at their destination, a sufficient time has elapsed for the owner to receive them iu business hours. After that the carrier may store them, and is responsible only for ordinary care. The agents of corporations which are common C., such as railway and steamboat companies, bind their prin cipals to the full extent of the business intrusted to their control, whether they follow their instructions or not; nor will it excuse the company to show that the agents acted willfully in disregard of instructions. The carrier has an insurable interest in the goods both in regard to fire and marine disaster, except such as result from inevitable acci dent, such as fire by lightning-stroke. If a particular time is set for the delivery of goods, damages may be recovered for exceeding that time. The carrier is liable upon general principles where the goods are delivered through his default, to the extent of their value at the place of destination; and this includes the profits of the adventure. If the goods are only damaged, or not delivered in time, the owner is bound to receive them. He will be entitled to damages, but he cannot repudiate the goods and recover for the total loss.