Page:Report from the Select Committee on Steam Carriages.pdf/223



Mr. John Macneil. 6 September, 1831. with the advantage to a road that the wheel moves continually round; which would be most injurious to 6 September; a road, the descent of a Carriage dragged as usual (not omitting the operation of the horses' feet,) or the Steam Carriage dragged or regulated in the mode described?—Not having seen a Steam Carriage descending a hill in the manner described (that is, regulated by the action of the Engine on the wheel,) I cannot give a satisfactory answer to this question; but as far as opinion goes. I should say that the joint action of the horses and drag would be more injurious than the Steam Carriage, the motion of which was regulated in the above manner, provided the wheels were of the proper width, and the total weight not greater than that of the coach and horses.

Various local Acts have passed, placing excessive tolls on Steam Carriages, it may be requisite to introduce a general Bill, which shall, on such roads, place Steam Carriages on a fair equality (so far as their relative injury or wear of road to common Coaches on each such road; the toll on a Coach on such roads may vary from one to two shillings, according to local circumstances, on a Waggon in the same proportion; what standard of charge would you suggest for Steam Carriages?—It has been stated to us, that one Steam Carriage has drawn a Carriage containing as many as thirty passengers, at the rate of even ten miles per hour, and nine tons weight at the rate of five miles per hour, but with smaller wheels, what regulation would you suggest as to the breadth of tire; or should tolls be chargeable in inverse proportion to the breadth of tire?—The toll.which Carriages propelled by Steam, or by any other mechanical means, should be required to pay, ought, in my opinion, to be in proportion to the injury they would do to the roads, compared with that done by the present description of Carriages and the horses employed to draw them, without reference to the weight or quantity of goods carried; but as I before stated. I do not believe an accurate estimate can be at present formed as to the injury that roads may sustain from Steam Carriages, compared with the injury done to them by