CENTRE CF GUAVITY. LOADING WAGONS. 37 



heavy loss. Again, a load may be temporarily placed so 

 much toward one side, while passing a sideling road, as 

 to throw the line of direction considerably more up hill 

 than usual, and save the load, which may be adjusted 

 again as soon as the dangerous point is passed. This 

 principle also shows the reason why it is safer to place only 

 light bundles of merchandise on the top of a stage-coach, 

 while all heavier articles are to be down near the wheels ; 

 and why a sleigh will be less likely to upset in a snow- 

 drift, if all the passengers will sit or lie on the bottom. 

 When it becomes necessary ^. ^^ ^^ 



to build very large loads 

 of hay, straw, wool, or 

 other light substances, the 

 "reach," or the long con- 

 necting-bar of the wagon, 

 must be made longer, so as 



to increase the length of the centre 0/ gravity of an even and one-sided 



load ; for, by doubling the ''""^' 



length, two tons may be piled upon the wagon with as 



much security from upsetting as one ton only on a short 



wagon. 



Where, however, a high load can not be avoided, great 

 care must be taken to have it evenly placed. If, for in- 

 stance, the load of hay represented by lig. 24 be skillfully 

 built, the line of direction will fall equally distant within 

 each wheel ; but a slight misplacement, as in fig. 25, will 

 so alter this line as to render it dangerous to drive except 

 on a very even road. 



Thus eveiy one who drives a wagon should understand 

 the laws of nature sufficiently to know how to arrange 

 the load he carries. It is true that experience and good 

 judgment alone will be sufficient in many cases; but no 

 person can fail to judge better, with the reasons clearly, 

 accurately, distinctly before his eyes, than by loose con- 

 jecture and random guessing. 



