Page:Report from the Select Committee on Steam Carriages.pdf/15

 Mr. James Stone states, that "thirty-six persons have been carried on one Steam Carriage."

"That the Engine drew five times its own weight nearly, at the rate of from five to six miles per hour, partly up an inclination."

The several witnesses have estimated the probable saving of expence to the public, from the substitution of Steam power for that of Horses, at from one-half to, two-thirds. Mr. Farey gives, as his opinion, "That Steam Coaches will very soon, after their first establishment, be run for one-third of the cost of the present Stage Coaches."

Perhaps one of the principal advantages resulting from the use of Steam, will be, that it may be employed as cheaply at a quick as at a slow rate; "this is one of the advantages over horse labour which becomes more and more expensive, as the speed is increased. There is every reason to expect, that in the end the rate of travelling by Steam will be much quicker than the utmost speed of travelling by horses; in short, the safety to travellers will become the limit to speed." In horse draught the opposite result takes place; "in all cases horses lose power of draught in a much greater proportion than they gain speed, and hence the work they do becomes more expensive as they go quicker." On this, and other points referred to in the Report, the Committee have great pleasure in drawing the attention of The House to the valuable Evidence of Mr. Davies Gilbert.

Without increase of cost, then, we shall obtain a power which will insure a rapidity of internal communication far beyond the utmost speed of horses in draught; and although the performance of these Carriages may not have hitherto attained this point, when once it has been established, that at equal speed we can use Steam more cheaply in draught, than horses, we may fairly anticipate that every day's increased experience in the management of the Engines will induce greater skill, greater confidence, and greater speed.