IMPROVEMENTS IN CARRIAGE-BUILDING. 419 



on France and America ; but locks of finer quality and 

 design are now made in England that surpass those 

 procured from other countries, and the tendency is still 

 further to improve and simplify them. 



" Carriage-lamps have been much improved in 

 pattern and style ; the methods of fastening them to 

 carriages have also been improved. When the standard 

 size sockets become more general, many advantages 

 will accrue in facilities for interchanging lamps. 



" Brakes for retarding the speed of carriages when 

 descending hills, and keeping back the weight from 

 the horses, have had much attention bestowed upon 

 them. 



"The preparation of morocco leather has under- 

 gone improvement, the surface has been waterproofed, 

 preventing saturation by rain and preserving it for a 

 longer time. 



" The existing cry for cheapness, combined with the 

 exceptional annual taxation, naturally influences the 

 quality of carriages now constructed. The numerous 

 light carriages that are now made can be taken into 

 hilly and mountainous districts, where heavier ones 

 could hardly travel. 



"Another demand of the present day is for high 

 wheels. Scientifically, and for easy running and speed, 

 these are very desirable, and in new countries with bad 

 roads or no roads, they are indispensable ; but under 

 some conditions they carry penalties side by side with 

 advantages. With rapid driving they throw far more 

 mud than those of more moderate height," 



INIr. Hooper, before closing his remarks on the sub- 

 ject of improvements in the carriage-building industry, 

 says that " it is specially taxed, and consequently labours 

 under exceptional disadvantages. Railway carriages 

 have never been taxed, nor have road carriages been 



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