TRAMWAY STABLES 337 



his way", and that must therefore dispense with luxury. Still more is 

 this the case in the stables of omnibus or tramway companies, or other 

 large commercial undertakings. Everything in these has to be contrived 

 to combine efficiency with economy, for which, indeed, the former is, 

 or ought to be, only another name. The space is reduced to a minimum, 

 5 feet being generally considered enough for the width of each stall, 

 though for large cart- or dray-horses more ought to be allowed. Space 

 is also often economized in the width by placing the horses back to back, 

 with a passage in the middle. Thus, with stalls 9 feet long and a 

 passage 7 feet wide between, and a door at the end, a stable 25 feet 

 wide will accommodate two rows of horses. It will hardly be advisable, 

 however, unless with doors at both ends, to have more than about eight 

 or ten stalls on each side. 



The fittings must all be of the strongest and simplest kind. Metal 

 capping will still be the best to prevent " crib biting ", but the remainder 

 of the divisions may be of pitch pine or spruce, both being hard and tough. 

 "Swinging bars" have been sometimes tried to give at least the pretence 

 of greater space in the stalls; but they are not satisfactory, and with any 

 but the quietest horses may give rise to more trouble than comfort. In 

 places where they have been introduced they have been soon abandoned. 

 The mangers and pots are often of glazed fire-clay, as being probably more 

 durable than enamelled metal, and can be made with a fire-clay bar across 

 to prevent nosing out the food. Hay-racks are often dispensed with, as 

 chopped fodder is the custom in all these stables. 



Flooring. In the long run, square sets, though dear at first, will 

 generally be found to make the most economical floor, and, with the 

 general introduction of peat-litter, drainage is dispensed with. With an 

 impervious bottom, and care in the management of the litter, and of course 

 ample ventilation, it is surprising how sweet a crowded stable can be kept 

 even in summer. 



TKAMWAY STABLES 



With practically no more harness than a trace and collar, in the case of 

 tramway or bus stables, each horse's harness can be hung upon his own 

 stall-post. A special harness-room, except as a store, is hardly required; 

 but in these large stables, where the horses are counted by the hundred, 

 a harness-repairing shop and a forge or shoeing-shop will each form a most 

 important branch. A number of loose-boxes for horses sick or temporarily 

 disabled, or on trial, will be very necessary. One for every eight or ten 

 horses kept will not be too many. In stables of this size an engine and 

 boilers to supply the power for cutting up the fodder and bruising and 



