Page:Report from the Select Committee on Steam Carriages.pdf/25

 of the difficulties and interruptions, which a fluctuating rate of Toll would induce; besides, this scale purports to be intended for a road, where 3d, is charged for a horse drawing, and ld, for a horse not drawing; the scale would be inapplicable therefore when the charge was 2d, and 1d., 3d, and 1½d., 4d, and 1d., 4d, and 1½d., 8d, and so on. Again, what standard of weight, in relation to horse Coaches, could be adopted? The average weight of loaded Coaches differs very much on different roads. It has been suggested that a loaded Coach, including the weight of four horses, would weigh on an average four tons; and that if 6d, per horse were chargeable to the Coach, 6d, per ton should be placed on a Steam Carriage; this would be unjust, as vans, which frequently weigh upwards of six tons; would only pay 2s., and a Steam Carriage would pay 3s. Even if the injury done to the road by each were equal, this would be an unfair Toll, but it will appear more evidently unjust if the greater proportionate injury done by the feet of horses drawing, than by the propelling wheels, be taken into consideration.

The object of every Steam Coach proprietor will be to attain the greatest possible lightness of Machinery and Engine; because thereby he renders bis power more efficient for the draught of the remunerating load. To place the Toll on the weight of the Engine would tend to induce him to decrease the strength of his, boiler and machinery to an extent which might be dangerous to the passengers, and very detrimental to the success of Steam travelling, as the Public will easily be led to believe, that accidents really occurring from injudicious legislation, were inseparable from the adoption of this power as an agent in propelling Carriages.

The only fair plea for charging Tolls on such Carriages, in proportion to their weight, is to prevent a load being propelled or carried which would permanently injure the road;, within this limit it would be as injudicious to interfere with their progressive efficiency, (which can only result from improvements of the Machinery and the system of generating and