Improvements in road construction and sailing had occurred, but shipping heavy freight over land remained expensive, even with the use of rivers and canals wherever possible.

道路设施以及航海技术都有所改进，但是即使在可以利用河流和运河的地方，船运重型货物到陆地的费用仍然很高。

youdao

Full set of clean on board Ocean/Combined Transportation/Land Bills of Lading and blank endorsed marked freight prepaid/ to collect;

标明通知收货人/受货代理人全套清洁、已装船、空白抬头、空白背书并注明运费已付/到付海运/联运/陆运提单。

youdao

Contrary to the obvious assumption, rising fuel prices might actually cause the use of ships for freight, as manufacturers reduce fuel use not by shipping things shorter distances, but by relying more heavily on efficient sea freight at the expense of less efficient land- and air-based modes of transport.

FORBES: A Leader in Efficient Shipping

The Times insists it is paying full freight for its 99-year lease on the land and that the land has long been scheduled for condemnation by the state anyway.

FORBES: Land Grab