Which of *these* ideas sounds more "reasonable"?

1) A stone mounting block to climb upon one's horse or carriage, weighing half a ton, and about 1 yard square.

2) A graded and levelled tarmacadam 4-lane highway between major cities 400 miles apart.

The issue is one of infrastructure and timing. Both are 'right", but not at the same time. If we are in the era of week-long arduous journeys by pack mule, then (1) is more "reasonable", but after 100 years of infernal combustion engines and highway development, then (2) is vastly more "reasonable".

I happen to beleive that the time is not yet ready for a space elevator, but I can imagine a time when it would be ludicrous NOT to build one.

the trick, as ever, is in the timing...