Page:Report from the Select Committee on Steam Carriages.pdf/158



Mr. Nathaniel Ogle. 17 August, 1831. You state that your Carriage is under the most perfect control?—Perfect.

Supposing you were going at the rate of ten miles an hour on a level toad, in what number of feet do you suppose you could entirely check the Carriage?—It would be difficult, to state precisely the number of feet, but certainly in a less space than you could stop a pair of carriage horses going with the same weight attached to them. I have no hesitation in saying, that a steam vehicle is safer in every respect than one with horses, that it is under more complete management at the same velocities and with the same weight, that it is more easily controlled, and that none of the accidents from fractious horses can take place with Steam Carriages.

Do you find that horses are generally frightened by passing your Carriage?—Very few indeed, persons usually alarm their own horses (the animal being quickly subject to alarm) either by dismounting, or patting them, and thus anticipating apprehension.

What rate of toll has been charged on your Carriage in the neighbourhood of Southampton?—None, whatever. I have paid near London, when trying experiments, a shilling or two, and I made no inquiry. I remember, going out of London, throwing one man a shilling, and another two, being too much occupied to trouble myself about the matter.

You pass through turnpikes in travelling round Southampton?—Yes.

What is the reason they have not charged you?—I do not know, unless they had the good sense to see that we rather do good to the road than injury.

Do you know on what authority they levy tolls on Carriages?—I know of only two instances in which they have been levied on Steam Carriages, one at Hammersmith Bridge, and the other at Cambridge Heath, near Hackney.

If toll collectors at Southampton abstain from demanding tolls, is it not because they had not authority to demand them?—I do not know their motive.

You think that the toll collector is so interested in the good state of the road that he would abstain from