Page:Report from the Select Committee on Steam Carriages.pdf/226

 Have you communicated your conclusions on these John Maoneil, subjects to Mr. Telford?—I have.

Does he coincide with you?—Quite so.

You stated, that the only probable injury to the roads from the travelling of Steam Carriages, would be the slipping of wheels; would it not be directly against the interest of the proprietor that the wheels should slip in any degree, there being a necessary Joss of power every time they do slip?—Clearly so.

From your observations of the effects produced by heavy Carriages drawn by horses, in ascending and descending hills, what would be the effect, under similar circumstances, of a Steam Carriage of a weight equal to the weight of the Coach and horses?—I am of opinion that the effect or injury to a road would be less by the Steam Carriage; for when hills exceed a certain rate of inclination, gravity overcomes the friction of the surface, and the Carriages, in descending, press upon the horses, unless a drag be applied to one of the wheels. This, in itself, injures the road, but not so much as when no drag is used, because the horses are then obliged to bear against the Carriage, and set down their feet very strongly; this often tears up the surface, particularly of weak roads. The time that is lost by the Coaches in descending some of the hills on the road between London and Birmingham, is full as much as is lost in ascending them, besides the imminent danger, even with the greatest caution on the part of the drivers. If proper springs were used, the draught would be lessened, and of course the injury to the road would be much diminished.

On every road there are numerous six-horse Waggons; you state the weight to be four tons and a half, the horses weighing four and a half more, making nine tons, should any objection be taken to a single Steam Carriage of this weight, or from nine to ten tons, provided the wheels be of a proper description?—No; I think in the general state of roads, a Steam Carriage of from nine to ten tons could run with perfect safety, without injury to the roads, if it was constructed with proper wheels.