49 



carts — both two-wheeled — the former for military use, and the 

 latter for women and those unable to walk. With them we 

 may safely assume began the evolution in wheeled vehicles. 

 Strength and utility were considered of the first importance, 

 and hence we find in all descriptions of them a largeness and 

 crudeness. Four-spoke wheels, heavy, uncouth body, placed 

 on an immense axle of wood succeeded the solid wheel. At a 

 later period of this nation's life we discover an attempt at re- 

 duction of size, and prolific ornamentation — curved lines are 

 shown in chariot bodies — the wheels have six or eight spokes 

 with three rims and a metalic tire. Rome evidently copied 

 from the Assyrians, and then improved the copy. -From Rome 

 the Western nations learned the art, if art it then was, of 

 carriage building. For centuries all road vehicles were bulky 

 in size, as compared with those of to-day, the lines were de- 

 void of beauty, although richly and elaborately ornamented. It 

 was not until comparatively recent years that one finds the 

 light and beautiful lines evolved, although an advance in that 

 direction was certainly being made. Each century passed 

 through an evolutionary stage. 



In this country carriage building was not a distinctive in- 

 dustry until nearly at the close of the first half of the present 

 century ; previous to that time one man made bodies, another 

 made wheels, another gears, the blacksmith did the ironing, 

 the trimmer or upholsterer stood on his own ground, as did the 

 painter. Each man took his pay in carriages more or less 

 finished, and disposed of them as best he could. 



Essex County, noted for its skilled mechanics and brainy work- 

 men, was early in the field assisting in developing this industry. 

 It is generally conceded by all that Hon. J. R. Huntington of 

 Amesbury, with a keen foresight of the probabilities in the 

 carriage industry, took the iniative in the movement to build a 

 carriage from the rough material under one roof and super- 

 vision. This was inaugurated by him some thirty-five or forty 

 years ago. Then commenced a new era in an industry that 



