74 DRAWING. 



tion as that of two men on or near the driving-seat. 

 The deader the weight, let it be placed as it may, the 

 greater the trial of the horse ; therefore inanimate 

 matter is heavier on traction than anything having life. 



Vehicles of which the lower carriage and axles are 

 kept braced together by a perch steadying the action of 

 the wheels, are much, the easiest on the draught. The 

 Americans are well aware of the advantages of such a 

 construction for encountering the roughness of many of 

 their roads. Not only are all their pleasure carriages, 

 or "buggies," so constructed, but the waggons have a 

 perch that by an admirable arrangement can be de- 

 tached, to allow of the carriage being lengthened when 

 required to carry timber or other lading. The perch, 

 being in two pieces, can be coupled by the simple con- 

 trivance of a movable iron band and pin, giving a 

 freedom, most desirable in a rough country, to the 

 movement of the lower carriage. This contrivance 

 works well, and might with advantage be applied to 

 our military train-waggons and ambulance-carts. Horses 

 cannot but suffer from the present construction of car- 

 riages in general use, where the axles are left unsup- 

 ported and unbraced to encounter the roughness and 

 inequalities of the road. 



Axle-Boxes. — Proper lubrication of the axle-boxes is 

 too often sadly neglected. Even Collinge's patent will 

 not run freely without periodical aid in proportion to 

 use, and it is no harm to make an occasional examina- 

 tion of the wheels of a carriage when they are lifted off 

 the ground by setters, to see that there is thorough 

 freedom in the working of them, by spinning them 

 round with one's finger against the spokes. The re- 

 application of gutta-percha or leather washers is essen- 



