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THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



theii'sale; ami as necessary to be attencled to as regards 

 economy and x)rofit, before justice can be done to capital 

 invested in this branch of commerce. 



To the former of these principles, the wholesale one, 

 oui- railroads belong, and also our steam-boat traffic, where 

 goods and passengers are only taken up and landed at 

 certain stations and landing-places. From and to these 

 stations and landing-places the working of the retail prin- 

 ciple is exemplified in the distribution of goods and 

 passengers to their final destination, or in the collection 

 of them for wholesale conveyance. The modus operandi of 

 working both these departments of conveyance is so well 

 understood, and so familiar to aU, as to render farther 

 illustration under this head unnecessary. 



Kow in the extension of oui- steam locomotion the fur- 

 ther reduction to practice of both these principiles is in- 

 volved ; while we have at the same time to attend to the 

 economy of horse-conveyance, whether on the principle of 

 wholesale or retail, that miist of necessity exist both in 

 town and country. So far as through traffic is concerned, 

 economy both as regards time and capital is ob\ionsly in 

 favour of steam. On tliis particular point there cannot 

 be two opinions. It is obviously, therefore, the interest 

 of the public that railways should be extended, so as to 

 perform as much of the wholesale or through conveyance 

 as Is possible on the present plan; and when this limit has 

 been attained, tramways, and the other wholesale systems 

 of common-road steam-locomotion now proposed, may be 

 reduced to practice. 



The following example will best illustrate this part of 

 oiu- subject, and how far it bears upon the interests of the 

 readers of the Mark-Lane Express. After fat stock, dead 

 meat, corn, and the thousands of tons of agricultural pro- 

 duce annually sent to this metropolis, arrive at the different 

 railway termini and wharves in the river, &c., such goods 

 have to be conveyed on the wholesale or through traffic 

 principle to their respective destinations for retail distri- 

 bution, much to the injury of the quality of the goods 

 and still more to the pecuniary loss of all interested. It 

 is the through traffic of such and all similar goods, to 

 which may be added railway and steam-boat passengers, 

 that is now causing so much obstruction in our streets, 

 and that is threatening at no distant day to put a final 

 quietus upon trade. Now, the whole of this through 

 traffic can easily be done by the steam-horse at a fraction 

 of the expense it now costs by horses, in much less time, 

 and at a still greater saving as to the injury done to goods 

 and passengers, partly by the extension of our present 

 railway system, and partly by street-railways, tram-ways, 

 and traction-engines on common-i-oads. In the provinces 

 again, it is possible to organize, if we may so speak, com- 

 mon-road locomotive systems to do the whole through 

 traffic by steam — delivering commercial goods at the various 

 villages, oilcakes, artificial manures, &c., at the home- 

 steads of farmers, and collecting in return, for railway- 

 stations and shipping ports, passengers, fat stock, dead 

 meat, corn, and other agricultural produce, at much less 

 expense both as to time and money than they now cost the 

 village merchant and the farmer. All this falls within the 

 legitimate province of the steam-horse, who is already 

 harnessed and at work ; and that he will go through his 

 task triumphantly, requires no proof. 



But the thi-ough traffic, to which we have just di-awn 

 attention, is not all that faUs within the domain of the 

 steam-horse. Experiment has already proved that he can 

 do a vast amount of heavy detail work more economically 



and better than horses, Owing to the elasticity of the steam 

 in the cylinder under the piston he can stop in going up 

 or down hUl or on level ground with much more certainty 

 and ease than a team of common horses can do, and also 

 start on his journey again. In this respect liis action is 

 similar to that of the steam-hammer. When this huge 

 implement was first proposed to be wielded by steam, 

 many were apprehensive that it would break everything to 

 pieces'; yet, in the hands of this new agent the tons of solid 

 metal forming the hammer are apparently as light as a 

 feather, and the stroke as soft and gentle as the circum- 

 stances of the case demand. Just so is it with the steam- 

 horse. He can stop in the steepest incline, with his twenty, 

 thirty, or forty tons, far easier and safer for himself and 

 the public, than the best team of horses in the British 

 capital can stop an empty waggon, omnibus, or we may 

 safely say Her Majesty's state-cariiage. For stopping and 

 starting, in the collection or distribution of goods, he is in- 

 finitely superior to the common horse. There is only one 

 condition which is imperative — ^lie requkes a heavy load be- 

 fore he will pay. Light work for horses : the heavy work for 

 steam — all the traffic, be it observed, that is now experienced 

 killing for our teams. 



It wiU thus be seen that this new field in wliicli steam 

 has been harnessed is a very important one to all section^ 

 of the community, and that success, in a great measure, 

 depends upon the proper arrangement of the work which 

 the steam-horse is more pecuUarly qualified to perform. 

 Under skilful management he will perform his work better 

 in less time and for less money than it is now done, and 

 with more satisfaction to his employers in a business point 

 of view, while our crowded streets and thoroughfares will 

 be relieved of the indescribable hubbub and confusion 

 which they daily exemplify. These are advantages that 

 can hardly be over-estimated, especially in the British 

 capital — the metropolis of the world, in a commercial sense. 

 Here every theory that economises time and money, and 

 promotes the general despatch of business, demands some- 

 thing more than a mere passing transitory approbation 

 or compUmentary acknowledgment. Whatever the situa- 

 tion in Ufe may individually be, public duty can have but 

 one voice in such matter, viz., to uphold by every public 

 means the progi-ess of the steam-horse in the great na- 

 tional undertaking upon wluch he is now entering. If 

 there are any who have prematurely arrived at the conclu- 

 sion that he is intended for butchers' boys and green- 

 grocers, in the distribution of chops and potatoes for the 

 million, they sadly under-estimate his locomotive func- 

 tions. This is not his calling. Although an elephant can 

 pick up peas and pin-heads with the greatest facility, who 

 ever dreamt of keeping an elephant expressly for such pur- 

 pose ? Like all other animals, the steam-horse has got his 

 own peculiar professional talents; and if these are skilfully 

 directed in the proper sphere of business, he will prove 

 himself a profitable seiTant to his employer and a fruitful 

 soui-ce of wealth and comfort to his country. 



Engikeee. 



THE RED DURHAM,— The conversation, which was 

 at a high pitch of animation when Silas approached the door 

 of the Rainbow, had, as usual, been slow and intermittent 

 when the company first assembled. The pipes began to be 

 puffed in a silence which had an air of severity ; the more 

 important customers, who drank spirits and sat nearest the 

 fire, staring at each other as if a bet were depending on the 



