STANDARD AXLE FOR VEHICLES. 93 



County we run a variety of tracks, and you will readily see 

 the difference in our roads. Where we run one heavy team, 

 which will cut a wide track, j^erhaps there will be half a 

 dozen lighter ones coming, which will vary in track ; and the 

 result is, we have a smooth road all the time. We have no 

 ruts, except in portions where heavy teams are running all 

 the time. It is almost impossible for us to visit this section 

 of country with our light vehicles, because they run narrower, 

 and go bobbing from one track to the other, and it is very 

 unpleasant. For thirty years I have taken notice of that 

 one thing. In the early days of the western country, the 

 farmers used particularly heavy wagons, and there was the 

 same difficulty attending deep ruts. You will find it reme- 

 died nowadays very materially. 



The Chairman. No wagon can come into Plymouth 

 County without a wide track. 



Mr. Moore. I want to say a few words as a farmer, to 

 the farmers here, in regard to this question of the length of 

 axles. In the vicinity of Boston, and all the cities in the 

 eastern portion of the State (I cannot say about the western 

 part), it has become the custom for farmers to sell their prod- 

 uce in bushel-boxes and in barrels ; and they have their 

 wagons built to hold two barrels and baskets abreast. Now, 

 suppose you take these narrow tracks : you are going to nar- 

 row up the bodies, so that the wheels will be right up to the 

 side of the bodies. Why should we do that? Why should 

 we adopt the track which is adopted by the horse-railroads ? 

 That is no good reason. It is understood perfectly that they 

 run the city of Boston ; but we, as farmers, do not mean that 

 they shall run the country at present, to say the least. I 

 think that is a serious objection. There is another objection. 

 You make a narrow track, and put a large load of hay on, as 

 I have to, to go to Boston : you will have to haul out on the 

 side of the road, and, if your wheels get into a rut, it will be 

 a very easy matter to unload your hay before you are ready. 



I think, with all these objections, although we might talk 

 here all day about the length of axles, we cannot do any 

 thing about it, and the Legislature will not do any thing 

 about it. I am not certain but what the different tracks keep 

 a better road throughout the summer than we should have if 

 the wagons and carriages were all of one track, because they 

 are not all run in one place, digging it out all the time. 



