21G THE SUGAR BEET. 



velocity of four kilometres per hour. This machine 

 was an expansion engine, the detent taking place at half 

 stroke of the piston, and the latter having a diameter 

 of 18 centimetres (6.'4:8). The main shaft had a ve- 

 locity of 1(30 revolutions per minute, and to every three 

 revolutions of this corresponded one of the driving 

 wheel. 



According to various calculations made, it has been 

 estimated that the cost per kilometric ton w^as only 

 f 0.02.^ This evidently was a great progress realized, 

 but the inconvenience was the same as before men- 

 tioned, that is to say, it necessitated roads in a perfect 

 condition, and even under the most favorable circum- 

 stances these would soon become broken up in conse- 

 quence of the continual passage over them of the 

 machine. 



This plan was necessarily abandoned by Corbin for 

 another called ^^2^^^^^^^^^ universelle''' (porteur or small 

 car); this being far better, has since received many 

 improvements. 



]. Mr. Corhin^s Idea. — This was not exactly original, 

 as it had previously been adopted in Belgium. This 

 system may be divided into two parts: first the portable 

 track and second the " porteur. '' The first has a length 

 of 5.30 m. (17.39 feet) per section which weighs about 

 21 kil. (4:0.2 lbs.); is composed of two "travees" of 



' The ordinary transportation is festimated at 20 cents per ton; in the above 

 evidently many items have been neglected. 



