Page:Report from the Select Committee on Steam Carriages.pdf/197



Mr. James Stone. 25 August, 1831. could draw considerably more weight?—Yes. I have no doubt of it whatever.

On what breadth of tire was that weight drawn?—I think the tire was five inches of the propelling Carriage.

For what distance did you continue to draw that pine tons?—A mile and a quarter.

Did the road vary.in its inclination?—Yes, a little; the greatest elevation could not be more than one in twenty-five.

Did you ascend an inclination of one in twenty-five with that weight?—Yes, we did.

For what distance?—From twenty to thirty yards.

And on the average of the mile and half, was it an ascending or a descending road?—It was both; there were little undulations in the road.

Can you measure accurately the power you are employing at any particular time; have you any guage?—No, we have never applied one; I have conceived: one, and am going to apply it.

A barometer tube?—Yes, that is the one. I think it right to state, that the wheels were taken off that measured five feet diameter, and others were substituted, measuring only three feet diameter.

Do you wish to have it inferred from that, that you employed in both cases the same amount of power?—There must have been a little more power with wheels of three feet diameter.

Do you think you exerted your utmost power when you were drawing nine tons?—No, and for the reasons stated, that there was only one wheel affixed to the Engine.

May you not exert your utmost power upon one wheel, taking into consideration that the strain is greater?—No, the wheel would slip round.

Was the surface of the road on which you tried that heavy weight broken up, or in any way rough, to give a greater amount of friction?—No, it was a good hard road.

What proportionate charge do you make for conveying passengers between Cheltenham and Gloucester?—One Shilling.