Page:Report from the Select Committee on Steam Carriages.pdf/159



Mr. Nathaniel Ogle. 17 August, 1831. demanding toll on that ground?—I think, that if they have contracted to keep the road in repair, they would be glad that Steam vehicles should run upon that road in preference to Carriages drawn by animals, because the wheels of Steam Carriages, if the tires are of a proper breadth, act as rollers.

Do you know.whether the toll collectors in general, contract for keeping the road in repair?—I do not know.

Do you know any instance of it?—No. I do not.

Have you beard any complaint by contractors of the injury done to roads from your Carriages?—No.

Nor from the surveyors of roads?—No.

What is the breadth of the tires of your wheels?—About three inches.

Could you increase the tire of your wheels without inconvenience?—Certainly.

To what breadth?—With a given weight there might be given breadths, in my opinion a vehicle carrying four tons weight, the engine itself weighing three tops, should have a tire about four inches and a half in breadth, a flat tire, not a round-tire, and the wheels should be cylindrical. It is decidedly to the interest of Steam Coach proprietors to have the tires broad, as the wheels have a diminished, tendency of sinking into the road.

Should they be increased according to the weights?—Yes; but I do not think that we have knowledge enough to speak precisely on that subject, and to go into minute details as to the exact breadth which should bear a given weight.

Taking either an increased or a diminished weight, what would be the increased or diminished: breadth of wheels which you would recommend?—I am not prepared to answer that minutely.

Is it your opinion, that in case they exceed three tuns weight, that wheels, three inches wide, improve the road, passing with the velocity, they do?—Certainly; the velocity has nothing to do with the wear of the road.

How many wheels have you?—Our-present Carriage has only three, so that the centre wheel rolls