1002 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc. 



inch tires, viz: (1) when the surface is soft and sticky underlaid by 

 hard roadbed, and (2) when the mud is deep and still' enough to 

 adhere to the wheels. Attention has already been called to the fact 

 that the dirt roads of the middle west are in either of these conditions 

 for a comparatively short time in the year. 



Both Axles Should be the Same Length. 



The proposition to use broad tires and have the front axle enough 

 shorter than the rear one to prevent the front and rear wheels from 

 running in the same track, is believed to be unsound under ordinary 

 circumstances, considered from the point of view of the user of the 

 wagon. Unquestionably such an arrangement would prove very 

 beneficial to the road, inasmuch as the rolling surface of the wheels 

 would be doubled, but unless a large majority of the wagons used 

 on the road were provided with broad tires and arranged with short 

 front axles, and unless the condition of the average road be very 

 much improved, the draft of those so equipped would be greatly in- 

 creased. For farm purposes also the draft of a wagon arranged in 

 this manner would be materially higher than if both axles were the 

 same length and the w^heels tracked. In addition to the disadvant- 

 age of increased draft, a diflQculty in turning would be encountered 

 which of itself would positively .preclude the adoption of the sug- 

 gestion, unless the form of our wagons be considerably modified. 

 Putting six inch tires on the ordinary wagon increases the space 

 required for turning, inasmuch as the rim of the broad wheel will 

 strike the body of the wagon in turning very much quicker than 

 would the rim of the narrow tired wheel. If the distance between 

 the rim of the wheel and the wagon bed be further diminished by 

 shortening the axle the difficulty in turning is further increased. 

 Viewing this matter from the point of public interest, it would seem 

 to be better policy to concentrate all efforts on the simple proposition 

 of inducing the farmers and teamsters to use broad tires, and not 

 complicate the question with features of doubful value which would 

 involve a material modification of the form of the wagons now built 

 for common farm and road purposes, and more or less inconvenience 

 to the users of the same. 



Summary of Results. 



Numerous tests of the draft of wide and narrow tired wagons 

 have been made at this Station during the past two years, on mac- 

 adam, gravel, and dirt roads in all conditions, and on meadows, 

 pastures, and plowed fields both wet and dry. The draft has been 

 determined by means of a self recording dynamometer. The net 

 load was in every trial the same, viz., 2,000 pounds. Contrary to 



