244 HIGHWAYS AND HORSES. 



of the negligence or wilful default of any person in 

 charge of or in attendance on such locomotive, to 

 recover summarily from such person the whole or 

 any part of the penalty he may have incurred as 

 owner. 



It was in consequence of all these restrictive Acts 

 of Parliament that I gave up using a steam tricycle 

 I designed and constructed about fifteen years ago. 

 Were it not for these restrictions to their use, light 

 steam carriages would long before this have been used 

 on common roads, and so constructed as not to alarm 

 horses or become a nuisance. 



Notwithstanding the fast progress that has been 

 made by the railway locomotive, road locomotion, 

 except so far as regards the unsightly and terrible 

 traction engine, has made no progress whatever, 

 neither have engineers or men of science been 

 encouraged to turn their attention to its development, 

 for the very good reason that, no matter how perfect 

 a steam carriage may be, it can never be used on the 

 high-road except at so slow a speed and with such 

 precautions that there would be no advantage what- 

 ever in its use or adoption. Were it not for this, 

 luxurious steam carriages, such as broughams, victorias, 

 etc., might be constructed, that would travel at a speed 

 of twenty or thirty miles an hour, perfectly safe, and 

 affording the utmost comfort. In towns, and in the 

 suburbs thereof, they might be compelled to slacken 

 speed, and to take every precaution necessary for the 

 safety of the public. 



Although there is this strong objection to steam 

 locomotion on common roads, which has culminated 

 in legislative enactments, it is to be hoped that there 

 will not be the same objections raised to electric 



