3 August, 1831.
level road, at the rate of four miles an hour, the Carriage weighing two tons?—Every 10 cwt in the Engine would draw what one horse could draw, so that two tons would draw as much as four horses.
Will the rate of tolls you have remarked in the Bills you have produced, prohibit the use of Steam Coaches on these roads?—Certainly.
What do you calculate to be the comparative expence of running a Steam Carriage and running a coach with four horses?—That varies in different situations, according to the price of coke and the price of labour; it is in all cases considerably less, at least one-half less.
You anticipate that the principal use of Steam Carriages will be the conveyance of passengers and at one half of the expence at which they travel now?—Yes; and in less time.
Can you deliver in to the Committee a detailed estimate of the expence of running a Steam Coach, and one of running an ordinary coach?—Yes, I will prepare them.
At what rate do you suppose it would be safe to run Steam Carriages on the public roads?—I have run them safely eighteen and twenty miles an hour; but twelve miles an hour is perfectly safe and practicable; the rate will be determined by practice principally; in directing the carriage at present there is no difficulty or danger in guiding the carriage at this rate.
Would there not he danger in passing a carriage drawn by horses?—If the engineer was careless it might be, but not with care; a mail-coach travels far beyond that at times.
You make your wheels cylindrical?—They must be cylindrical, for they turn with the axles.
None of yours are less than three inches now?—No; three inches to three and a half, even where the Carriage weighs two tons weight.
