Expenses of Road Coaching. 385 



Tlie expenses were £^0 a week, and the return from passengers and parcels about ^35 

 a week. 



Another partnership of two gentlemen estimate the balance of loss on fifty miles of road 

 for nineteen weeks at ;^ 1,000, or ^^500 apiece. 



An offer has recently been made by a horse-dealer to supply horses and fodder for 

 working the fifty miles for nineteen weeks for _^ 1,000! 



ANOTHER ESTIMATE.* 



Horses cannot be purchased for less than fifty pounds apiece (the horses of the Guildford 

 and Dorking averaged sixty). The contract in the country for feed is 17s. 6d. per horse 

 per week. But it is a far better plan to have the chaff cut and the corn mixed at one depot 

 and deliver to the stablemen each week sacks enough for the stud for the week ; it diminishes 

 the temptation to steal, or feed pigs or fowls. 



As to stabling, a farm-house is more desirable than a public-house, if it can be got 

 The stages must not be more than eight miles apart : less if galloping is to be done. 



The coach is usually miled at a price agreed on with the builder. 



Colour is a matter of taste. White and red of the under carriage of the Tunbridge Wells, 

 primrose and red of that famous whip the late Mr. William Cooper's coach, and the old mail 

 red of the Windsor, are all good. 



Modern coaches are too heavy (soft Wolverhampton steel instead of iron ought to be 

 used). No passenger coach should weigh more than 20.| cwts. Each coach should be 

 provided with two sets of wheels, and should be overhauled carefully at the end of each 

 journey ; wheels sometimes catch fire. 



A dirty coach is not a nice thing to start with ; a second coach is convenient, if not, the 

 coach must be washed. 



The appearance of a coach is improved by seating only the guard and two passengers 

 on the hind seat. 



Under no circumstances should passengers be allowed on the roof when it is intended 

 for luggage ; the less the better, if you want your stage-coach to run as light as possible. 



Harness may sometimes be bought by auction at the end of the season very cheap, the 

 property of young gentlemen who started with everything purchased on credit, regardless of 

 price. 



Following the example of the London General Omnibus Company, there should be a 

 double set of harness at each stage, so that the man in charge can clean the dirty one and 

 be ready with the clean one. Chain ends to the traces have one advantage : they tell in 

 the dark if a wheeler is shirking his work. 



Shoeing should be contracted for. Let the professional coachman examine each horse's 

 feet at every convenient opportunity, and sec how the work is done. 



Helpers. — Pay them each £1 a week, and 5 s. a week to be paid at the end of the season, 

 if they stay and behave properly. 



Stable utensils and headstalls are best purchased in London from the wholesale men. 

 Stokes, Little Moorfields, is ready to contract for these and also for harness. 



A corn chest with lock is required if corn is given unmixed, but a locked-up shed for 

 the sacks of mixed provender is better. 



Fares. — Threepence a mile should be the standard. 



* Condensed from Baily's Magazine, June, 1878. 

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