232 ROAD, TRACK, AND STABLE. 



1 ^"-^^"-5 



they are almost invariably fat and soft ; but they are 

 immediately assigned to a station, without any train- 

 ing or preparation. Consequently, they must be hu- 

 mored, and, if need be, restrained somewhat, during 

 their first months of service. Should they be driven 

 fast at this time, they might easily become " touched 

 in the wind," or otherwise disabled ; and this some- 

 times happens through careless or unskilful driving. 

 The best and strongest horse in the world, if out of 

 condition, cannot safely be called upon for an ex- 

 traordinary effort. (There is a hint here, by the way, 

 for fat or elderly people who persist in running for 

 trains.) 



Elsewhere, the weight of fire horses is commonly 

 about the same as it is in Boston. In Cambridge, in 

 Lynn (which has an excellent department), and in 

 Providence, they have none over 1,400 pounds ; in 

 Chicago the limit is given as 1,450 ; but in Brooklyn 

 comparatively light horses are used, their weight 

 varying from 1,150 to 1,350 pounds ; and the veteri- 

 nary surgeon attached to this department states that 

 he prefers those approaching the minimum. 



As a rule, short-legged and short-backed horses are 

 the best for drawing engines. It is indeed a general 

 equine principle that " weight-pullers " should be 

 formed in this way : they are more nimble, take 

 shorter steps, and recover themselves more easily, 

 than longer-legged and longer-striding animals. The 

 trotters who make fast records to skeleton wagons 

 (much heavier than sulkies) are almost invariably of 

 such a construction. I have been told of a pair of 

 tough roans built thus, and weighing not much more 

 than 1.200 pounds, who could pull a heavy engine at 



