during the last Four Years: 175 



that question. Whichever of the three be the best machine now, 

 there is no doubt that, seven years ago, Mr. Beart greatly reduced 

 the price of tiles in Huntingdonshire. Here we then paid 50^., 

 and even 60s., for tiles ; there Mr. Beart sold tiles of the same 

 length (1 foot) and the same quality for 226'. : here soles, one of 

 which is required with every tile, cost 30s. ; there, from 8^. to 10s. 

 So that, in fact, for the same sum which the soles alone cost us 

 here, the Huntingdonshire farmer obtained the tiles into the bar- 

 gain. Yet the price of coals would justify a difference of l^*. only. 

 If the Huntingdonshire scale could be made universal, the highest 

 price of one-foot tiles would be notGO^*., but 27s. per 1000: and 

 what has been done in that county for seven years, being now 

 known, ought to be imitated. Indeed, if a landowner have a kiln 

 of his own, he may make tiles, as Mr. Beart does, for 15s. per 

 1000 : the machine costs only 12^., and can be used by a common 

 labourer ; as doubtless can Lord Tweeddale's and Mr. Irving's. 

 1 will only add a short estimate of the expense of tile-draining on 

 the Huntingdonshire scale of prices, — in a district where coals 

 cost 16s., and tiles would sell, consequently, at 20^"., soles at 10^. 

 Those who know the necessity for draining wet land, the difficulty 

 of defraying the expense where hundreds or thousands of acres 

 require to be drained, and consequently the importance of saving 

 4/. or 5/. per acre in making land dry, will agree, I think, that if 



You are probably aware that tiles and soles, of 10 and 12 inches in length, 

 are often named in comparison of price with ours, which are not only 15 

 inches long, but also of very superior quality. It may indeed be some evi- 

 dence of their estimation in the agricultural world to state that we have this 

 year made upivards of 20 millions of draininy -tiles and soles. 



" I beg to enclose for your attention a short account of our machines, and 

 the rates of seignorage for their use. I shall have much pleasure in showing 

 the hand-machines at work to you or your friends at any time, and to give 

 any information as to the cost of working them. I wish it to be understood 

 that we find no fault with any other tile-machine, but claim only for our 

 own that superiority which we are certain it deserves. The very great dura- 

 bility of our tiles, arising from the compression employed in their manufac- 

 ture, may be the more readily understood by comparing the weight of the 

 common tile with those made with the aid of the pressure we employ. It 

 will be found that common tiles weigh about 35 cwt. per 1000 ; while those 

 made by us will weigh about 45 cwt. per 1000. The price of a hand tile- 

 machine is 45/. ; and with it two men and one boy can easily make 500 

 perfectly-formed draining-tiles, 15 inches long, per hour. 



" The following are the rates of seignorage charged to licencees : — 



Per 1000. 

 s. d. 

 On any number up to 100,000, made in any one season . 1 

 On air beyond the first 100,000 up to 150,000, made in 



the same season . . . . . .011 



On all beyond the first 150,000 up to 200,000, made in 



the same season . . . . . .0 10 



On all beyond 200,000, made in the same season . .09 



On soles for draining-tiles . . one half the above rates." 



