Page:Report from the Select Committee on Steam Carriages.pdf/192



Mr. Joseph Gibbs. 19 August, 1831. and tolls are collected by the weight of the Steam Engine, the whole of these Carriages would be liable to pay toll by weight. I think that in carrying heavy 19 de goods it is more than probable the Steam Engine will be on a separate Carriage, and the power transmitted to the hind axle of the Carriage containing the goods, by means of a flexible bolt or intermediate wheels, in order to obtain a slow motion of the Carriage, the speed of the Engines being the same; but does not this connect them, so that they may be considered as one Carriage, and liable to pay by weight? As it is probable that Steam Carriages or locomotive Engines will be used for ploughing, or to draw the plough to it, the Engine remaining during that time in its location, and only moving when the plough has completed its furrow, yet, in going and returning to the field, it may travel upon a turnpike road, and be subject to the toll of a Steam Carriage; an Engine of this description will be very heavy, and unless a provision is made, the farmer would be obliged to attach horses to it to prevent its being considered a locomotive Engine. It appears to me that the only method of collecting tolls is by payment (under proper regulation) on the number of wheels employed, and not on the weight of any part of the train, for if one part pays by weight and the other upon the number of wheels, the weight can be removed to a dangerous extent from the part paying by weight, and placed to an injurious extent upon the part by the number of wheels. I can well appreciate the difficulty the Committee must have to contend with in coming to a just decision as to the best method of levying tolls. I have been a number of years constantly having new inventions under my consideration, as well as being the inventor of several patent inventions which are now in full operation; therefore, without presumption. I feel myself qualified to give an opinion. I have constantly observed that all new invented machines entirely change shape, dimensions, weight and general arrangement of parts as they proximate to perfection, so that the perfect machine could not be recognized by persons