39 



and also to the fact of the Earl of Caithness having travelled in a steam car- 

 riage at the average rate of twenty miles an hour, on the common highway 

 from London to Edinburgh. 



The following letter from Messrs. Aveling and Porter, of Rochester, was then 

 read : — 



"Rochester, 



" February 19th, 1864. 



"Sir,— We are in receipt of your obliging favor of the 23rd December last, 

 and, as the most complete reply to your enquiries, we send you a copy of our 

 catalogue, with illustrations and descriptions, of our traction engines. 



" The engine described in p.p. 4 and 5, is the one especially adapted for 

 goods traffic on the high roads. This will travel with a load of, say 20 tons, at 

 the rate of two miles per hour, over most roads, and at twice that speed with 

 half the load, viz., 10 tons at four miles per hour. Engines made to travel 

 faster than this one can only be geared for speed at the expense of power— 

 and fast passenger engines we have never attempted to make, nor do we 

 remember an instance of a successful one being turned out. The class of 

 engine required for this traffic is of so entirely different a nature from what we 

 make, that we have always declined entering upon the experiment. 



" We shoxild be glad to establish a sj-stem of traction engines upon the road 

 you mention, and we hope from a perusal of our catalogue that you may 

 believe in the feasibility of doing so, and write us again accordinglv. 



"If you could instruct any of youi- English cori'espondents to act for you, 

 and make it their busmess to see our engines, and judge for themselves of 

 their adaptability, we shoiild have much pleasure in giving them every oppor- 

 tunity in our power of doing so. 



" "We are, Sir, 



" Your obedient servants, 



..^ , X., .^ ,„ "AVELING & PORTER. 



"Dr. A-gnew, Hobart Town, Tasmania." 



Extracts from the pamphlet accompanying the letter were read showing 

 that the engine was capable of di-awing, at a rate of six miles an hour° 

 waggons laden to the extent of 20 tons, along common roads ; and up and 

 down inclines twice as steep as any between Hobart Town and Launceston, at 

 the rate of three to four miles an hour. 



The following was the answer from Bray's Traction Engine Co. :— 

 " Bray's Traction Engine Co. (Limited), 



"17, "Warwick-st., Regent-st., London, "W., 

 "February 19th, 1864. 



" Sir,— In reply to your favor of 16th December last, we beg to furnish you 

 with the following particulars respecting this Company's engines, and send, 

 per book post, a pamphlet containing full description of the same. 



"The price of a 20 horse-power (nominal) engine with two cylinders 9'' diameter 

 by 15" length of stroke 120 lbs. working pressure of steam, is £1,500. 



" The price of a passenger engine, capable of travelling at the rate of 12 

 miles an hour, £1,250. 



"The price of an engine (10 horse-power nominal), with two cylinders, 7" 

 diameter x 15" length of stroke, 120 lbs. working pressure of steam, is £1,250. 



" If fitted with aU the extra appliances for transmitting power as described 

 in pamphlet, £200 per engine extra. 



" The above prices include delivery at London, Liverpool, Bristol, or Glasgow, 

 but not, the packing or shipping charges, which are borne by the purchaser! 

 The cost of packing is about £25. 



" The terms of payment are net cash, payable in thi^e instalments, as cus- 

 tomary with the trade. 



" The engines are constructed in every respect of the very best quality of 

 workmanship and materials with the view of keeping the cost of maintenance 

 and repair as low as possible. 



" Being supplied wiih double acting pumps, they act most efficiently as steam 

 fire engines, whilst they can also, if requiied, be fitted with the various appli- 

 ances for transmitting power, before referred to, so as to adapt them to all the 

 purposes of fixed or portable, as weU as traction engines. 



" They can thus be used for ploughing, driving machinery, sawing or felling 

 timber, pumping, hoisting, &c. 



_" The engines are geared for two speeds— with, heavy loads from 2^ to 3 

 miles an hour, and with light loads or empty waggons from 5 to 6 miles per 

 hour; 



