144 AMERICAN STABLE GUIDE. 



that their pace would not be allowed by the police regula- 

 tions of Springfield, Massachusetts. He concludes his 

 views by propounding the question " whether it would not 

 be easier and less expensive for us to keep one mile of road 

 in good order, than to buy and feed an extra horse ?" We 

 are not of those who believe that by increasing the safety 

 of carriages and wagons, used for family and -pleasure pur- 

 poses, by the addition of a little extra weight to them, the 

 improvement of trotters would not be continued, and that 

 they would be allowed to deteriorate. The Scotch gentle- 

 man was about right, when after a little misunderstanding 

 whether he or his coachman should keep sober to drive 

 home one evening after a dinner party, and on the arrival 

 of the carriage it was found emiyty^ he concluded in the 

 morning to have a new vehicle, not only strong, but one 

 that would positively hold in. 



We do not charge our carriage and wagon builders with 

 fraud upon their too unsuspecting patrons, but they are 

 not altogether blameless, inasmuch as we see the fine and 

 expensive carriage often provided with inferior axles and 

 springs, both in quality and make. This would not so 

 often be the case, were owners better informed as to the 

 '^essentials" that constitute a good and safe carriage. 

 Are the prices of carriages and wagons not sufficient to 

 afford a " Collings" axle, that are so safe and so highly 

 prized by every person, who has ever had them in use ? 

 Our firemen and their truck builders are ahead of builders 

 and buyers of fine carriages in this particular. 



