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No. XIII. 

 On Wheel Carriages. By T. Estcourt, Esq. 



The satisfactory result of Mr. Cutnming's experiments before the Board on 

 broad wheel carriages, and the evident superiority of cilindrical to conical wheels, 

 are equally curious and important, as relating to the great turnpike roads of the 

 kingdom j but I have often heard it stated by well informed persons, that no im- 

 provement in the form of the wheel can compensate for the injury done to the 

 roads by the pressure of the immense weights these broad wheels usually carry. I 

 have also heard it asserted, that a greater weight may be carried with equal ease 

 when it is distributed in several carriages, drawn each by one horse, than when it 

 shall be accumulated on one waggon, drawn by a greater number of horses. 



Although it is impossible to doubt the justice of the inferences drawn by Mr. 

 Gumming from his experiments, yet there seem to be almost insurmountable diffi- 

 culties to the application of them practically to the improvement of the public 

 roads. I therefore take the liberty to suggest, whether it would not be more con- 

 sistent with the views of the Board, and a subject more interesting to the agricul- 

 ture of the country, connected with the improvement of the roads, to investigjte 

 the question. Whether the use of one horse carts, for all purposes to which they 

 are applicable, would be an improvement to the use of waggons and carts with a 

 greater number of horses, or not? to endeavour to obtain an accurate statement of 

 facts relating to it. 



Should this suggestion be so far worthy of countenance as to drav/ the attention 

 of the Board, the following queries, amongst others, might be attended to by those 

 who would make the necessary inquiries upon it : — Are one horse carts in general 

 use, instead of heavier carriages, in any part of the kingdom, and where ? What is 

 the extent of the districts where they are so used ? What kind of horse or other 

 beast is used in them ? What is the form, capacity, and weight of the cart, with and 

 without its load? What is the actual state ol the roads in such district? Of what 

 materials are such roads made ? What is the amount of the expence, annually, of 



