AMERICAN WHEELS. 405 



" Some of the American carriages exhibited have the 

 axle-boxes bedded in the wheel-stocks, with front and 

 hind collar or cushion of indiarubber secured by a 

 slightly tapered and screwed iron collar ; the object is 

 to cut off the vibrations of the wheel from the body, so 

 as to reduce the concussion while the carriaafe is in 

 motion. The American wheels are not shown with 

 the carriages, but with the American machinery, in a 

 separate annex ; this is a manufacture in which they 

 specially excel ; they seem to have brought all their 

 energy, skill, and ingenuity to its development, whether 

 as regards the excellence of the machinery employed, 

 or in the finished wheels. It was first necessary to 

 make a great effort to supply the demand of the public 

 for light wheels ; these were of little use in such a 

 country, if they were not durable. To secure this end, 

 not only was it necessary to use the choicest timber, 

 but the most careful and accurate workmanship. 



" The American hickory was found to be the wood 

 best suited for such wheels. Not only had machines 

 to be invented to facilitate the manufacture, but such 

 machines had to be worked by carefully-trained men. 

 The general education received by the American 

 people enabled them to secure intelligent workers, who 

 saw that machinery was a friend to be encouraged, not 

 a foe to be kept at a distance ; the consequence is that, 

 while English workmen have been casting difficulties in 

 the way of improving the wheel manufacture, the Ameri- 

 cans are supplying the world with such wheels as for ac- 

 curacy of workmanship are unsurpassed. For not only 

 have they made their national light and high wheels for 

 their fast-trotting carriages, but they have produced 

 wheels of the pattern and size used in Europe, and 

 adapted for European carriages. Large quantities are 



