Page:Report from the Select Committee on Steam Carriages.pdf/231



Mr. John Macneil. 6 September, 1831. ordinary Carriages, with reference to the toll charged for them?—Considering the present imperfect state of Steam Carriages for turnpike roads. I think it would do no injury to Road Trusts if such a regulation was adopted.

Would you place Steam Waggons on the same footing as Waggons drawn by horses?—Yes, provided the wheels are made as I described in proportion to the weight; there should be the same toll on a Waggon drawn by steam as a Waggon drawn by horses, that is, the width of wheel should be charged per inch as the horses are now charged.

Should a Steam Waggon be licensed as to its weight, in the same manner as a Steam Coach?—I think just the same.

Did you conduct the experiments made on the Holyhead Road as to the force of traction required on different inclinations?—I did.

Were they carefully made or otherwise?—They were carefully made as far as the materials would allow; the Waggon was a very large one, with common axle-trees; the result in some cases differed from two to three pounds; on the whole I should say the results stated in that Report do not exceed in any case five pounds beyond what they would be found if proved by the best practical instruments, and are confirmed by my subsequent observations and experience; the object we had in view, by these experiments, was to show to the Trustees and the Surveyors of the roads, that a road might appear a very good one, and still not be one adapted for traffic. By these means they have perceived the defective parts in the road; and within three months after the Report of the Parliamentary Commissioners became public, there was not a hedge on that part of the road where the draught was shown to be excessive, that was not cut down and improvements made on the surface.

When you followed Mr. Gurney's Carriage, did you perceive that any horses were frightened, or any inconvenience arose to passengers on the road?—I did pot perceive the least inconvenience; I saw several