STANDARD AXLE FOR VEHICLES. 87 



in Rhode Island, what is known as the wide track does not 

 exceed five feet two inches.^ » 



I have given in a note the dry statistics, as far as I have 

 been able to ascertain them, of the width of carriage-tracks 

 among the civilized nations of the earth. And now, what 

 lesson can we learn from them? Is there any reason why 

 there should not be a standard length, at least in New Eng- 

 land, and even throughout the world ? Is it desirable ? If 

 so, what should be the standard? and how can such standard 

 be obtained? 



The only advantage which I have heard suggested for the 



1 Throughout Central New York the wagon-track is four feet ten inches, 

 out to out; in New Jersey, the State track, five feet, centre to centre, or five 

 feet two inches, out to out ; and in Hackeusack and vicinity , four feet one inch. 

 In the southern part of Pennsylvania, in Delaware and Maryland, including 

 Philadelphia and Pittsburg, the wide track is five feet, centre to centre; but in 

 the central counties of Pennsylvania the carriage-track varies from four feet 

 six inches to four feet ten inches. In Ohio the State wagon-track is four feet 

 ten inches. In Northern Ohio the narrow track, four feet eight inches, is most 

 in use; but in the southern counties a wide track of five feet, centres, is used. 

 In Indiana and Illinois the wide track is five feet, centre to centre; whilst in 

 their northern and western counties the track is four feet eight inches, out to 

 out. In the north-western States, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and 

 nearly all Kansas and Colorado, the narrow track, four feet eight inches, out 

 to out, is used; but in West Colorado, and until you reach California, the wide 

 track of five feet is used. In Oregon, east of the mountains, is the wide track 

 of five feet, centre to centre; whilst west of the mountains the narrow track of 

 four feet eight inches, out to out, prevails. In California the stage-track is five 

 feet two inches, centres, or five feet four inches, out to out; medium carriage- 

 track, four feet eleven inches out; light-buggy track, four feet eight inches out. 

 In the Southern States the widest track is five feet, centre to centre. 



FOREIGN CARRIAGE-TRACK. 



Mexico and Central America. — In Mexico the mail-coach track measures 

 five feet to five feet six inches, according to route, but carriages sent there 

 from New York generally have a five-foot track; and the Central American 

 States average about the same as Mexico. 



South America. — In Peru and Chili the track is four feet six and a half to 

 four feet eight and a half inches; and in Brazil, of the same width as in 

 England and France. In Enrjland, with good roads, the track varies from 

 three feet eight inches to five feet. 



In Continental Europe the roads are generally good, and the imjiortance of 

 uniformity is not pressing; but none of the tracks exceed five feet. Prussia, 

 four feet four inches, centre to centre; Bavaria, three feet seven inches, centre 

 to centre; Rhenish Bavaria, three feet eleven inches, out to out; Saxony, three 

 feet seven inches and a half, inside to inside; Wurtemberg, three feet eight 

 inches, inside to inside; Hesse, four feet one inch, inside to inside; Baden, 

 three feet eight Inches, inside to inside; Holstein-Lauenburg, four feet four 

 inches, out to out; Hamburg, four feet six inches, out to out; Austria, four 

 feet four inches, centre to centre. These measurements are in their foreign 

 measures. For Austria add one-thirtieth of a foot to each foot named, and for 

 all the other Prussian measurements add one-twentieth to each foot named. 



