Page:Report from the Select Committee on Steam Carriages.pdf/207



Mr. J. McAdam. 25 August, 1831. and I have already stated, that these Carriages, with properly constructed wheels, would be the class of 5 August. Carriages that would do the least injury to the roads.

What is the greatest speed you have known a Carriage drawn by horses to execute a given number of miles on your Trust?—I once, by mere accident, came in the Leeds Union Coach from Grantham, which is 110 miles from London; I got into the Coach at three o'clock, and I was in London at half after one the same morning; that was at the time the Leeds Union and the Rockingham were racing the whole way up.

Are you aware that Mr. Telford states in his Report on the state of the Holyhead Roads, that three of the Birmingham Coaches perform the journey of 110 miles in less than eight hours, without any accident, at the rate of thirteen miles and six furlongs an hour?—I have frequently beard it stated upon the road, though I do not know it of my own personal knowledge.

Have you any other observations you would wish to make to the Committee?—I am not aware of any point.

You do not think it will be necessary to limit Steam Carriages to any particular number of passengers, provided the wheels were of the dimensions stated?—If the wheels were of the dimensions and the description stated. I should, in reason, be regardless of weight, experience having completely proved, with properly constructed wheels, we sustain little or no injury from weight.

What is the maximum weight a road would bear upon each wheel?—The injury done by weight upon a road in a Carriage with proper wheels is principally. I might almost venture to say exclusively, to the new coatings; if the weight in such Carriage is a crushing weight, as applied to the materials with which the road is made, it does a very considerable injury, and therefore were Steam Carriages to become in general use, it would be a matter of great importance, that harder material should be introduced, that flint should take the place of gravel, and that granite or whinstone take the place of flint which is the principle acted