1824.] 
. These electro-chemical researches bid 
fair to open a most extensive field for 
investigation, and to prove, of infinite 
value to the arts: for it seems not im- 
probable that means will speedily be 
found, in almost every, case, to prevent 
that destruction, or at least injury, to 
which all metallic surfaces are liable, 
from what is termed oxidation by the 
atmospheric air. I shall not fail to 
communicate to your readers, in the 
ensuing numbers, such new facts as be- 
come developed in this very interesting 
department of science. 
—=>_- 
OsservaTions on a@ GENERAL Iron 
Rat-way, or Lanp Stram-Con- 
_ VEYANCE, to supersede the necessity of 
Horses in all public Vehicles. 
To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. 
Sir: 
N reference to my former communi- 
cation, in your Magazine for June, 
p. 409, allow me to lay before your read- 
ers a few more remarks on this impor- 
tant subject. There is no branch of po- 
litical economy which so imperatively 
demands particular attention in every 
district, and none so worthy of national 
support, as the facility of communica- 
tion from town to town throughout the 
kingdom. 
. The natural importance of this im- 
provement cannot fail, in process of 
time, to attract universal attention, both 
at home and abroad. The great facility 
and economy in our daily communica- 
tion by steam-packets, afford the most 
perfect illustration of this scheme; but 
however excellent the present system 
of steam-packets may appear, the su- 
periority of land steam-conveyance is 
far beyond it, as it unites, in a 
ten-fold degree, every advantage which 
steam-packets, canals, coasting-traders, 
and turnpike-roads now yield. 
The expense of making a canal is con- 
siderably more than that of a rail-way ; 
and the experience already had of our 
canal conveyance cannot fail to convince 
every impartial observer, that the heavy 
expense attending the construction and 
repair of canal-boats, with all their mul- 
tifarious tackle, men’s wages, horses and 
their keep, must render the transport 
of goods in this manner much dearer 
than by an improved rail-way, which so 
peculiarly combines both economy of 
time and of labour; in addition to this, 
we should consider how few hands are 
required to superintend a gang of wag- 
gons on the rail-way, compared with 
those employed in the conveyance of 
Monrury Mac. No.-40). 
Observations on Land Steam-Conveyance. 
229 
the same freight by a canal. But the 
almost insurmountable difficulties at- 
tending the construction ef our ca- 
nals (with the pleasing serpentine di- 
rection of most of them) such as locks, 
tunnels, reservoirs, towing-paths, &c., 
have seemed to attract the skilful spirit 
of our engineers, in preference to the 
other more simple, and profitable me- 
thod. 
Rail-ways are very commonly used 
for the levelling of roads, and removing” 
the ground on the formation of canals ; 
from this we may infer the great 
facility and economy which would at- 
tend the construction of a general iron 
rail-way, instead of the partial applica- 
tion of rail-ways as a mere auxiliary to 
roads and canals. Steam-packets were 
originally imtended as auxiliaries to the 
sailing. packets, but. the former have, 
from their great superiority, already 
become nearly the sole conveyance for 
mails across the channels; the deduction 
therefore is clear, that so soon-as pub- 
lic prejudice shall be overcome, our 
inland conveyance may be conducted on 
the same improved principle by the ap- 
plication of mechanical power on im- 
proved rail-ways, instead of by common. 
Notwithstanding the improvements 
this plan may introduce into every coun- 
try, and the great increase of inland 
trade to arise from the immense capital 
it would cause to be circulated in every 
direction, there may be individuals, 
as well as companies, whose interest 
would be affected; but it cannot be ex- 
pected that the accomplishment of so 
great a work can be obtained without 
trespassing. upon some few establish- 
ments. The proprietors of the few 
canals which do answer, will have the 
greatest reason to complain, but, in 
common with the rest of society, they 
must of course submit to any method of 
improving the conveyance or transport 
of merchandize, just as the coasting- 
traders do to the established steam-ves- 
sels ; with respect to those canals which 
do not answer, and those that never can, 
the sooner they are abolished in foto the 
better. 
In my former communication I de- 
scribed the great advantage to be derived 
from supplying the city of London with’ 
coal by this conveyance in preference 
to the employment of vessels ; the same 
economy and despatch might also be 
obtained in supplying the corn mar- 
kets of the metropolis, and of every 
other town. The delay attending 
the conveyance of goods by coasting- 
2G traders, 
