4o6 HIGHWAYS AND HORSES. 



now sent to England and many parts of Continental 

 Europe. A few of such wheels are sent from Canada ; 

 but it is evident that the United States of America 

 have developed the wheel manufacture in advance of 

 other nations. Not only is it a distinct trade from the 

 coach-maker in America, but large wheel factories with 

 the finest machinery, are worked by thousands of in- 

 telligent workmen and prosperous employers. 



" In this exhibition Russia, Italy, Austria, Belgium, 

 Holland, Hungary, Norway, Canada, Switzerland, etc., 

 show carriages of various forms and make ; many of 

 the English and French type ; some national, such as 

 the travelling-phaeton from Pesth, the cariole of Nor- 

 way, and the light carriages of Canada. Some copies, 

 as the drag from Pesth, are capable of much improve- 

 ment, but show a growing taste for four-in-hand driving 

 in the south-east of Europe among the magnates of 

 Hungary. 



'■ Speaking of Parisian omnibuses, the Paris General 

 Omnibus Company, and the Paris General Carriage 

 Company, each have their own manufactories, the 

 latter at 134, Rue d'Aubervilliers. In the omnibus 

 factory nearly all the carriages are alike, and the 

 various parts interchangeable. This system has its 

 advantages and its drawbacks ; in the first instance 

 it was necessary to consider the conditions that had 

 to be fulfilled as regards the number of passengers 

 to be carried, the weight of the carriages, the best 

 proportions, the size, shape, and strength of the various 

 accessories. Of course carriage-building must have 

 reached a certain degree of perfection before such a 

 system as that of interchangeable parts can be worked 

 with any chance of success ; but a well-conceived plan. 



