626 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



thrice the present traffic. And this is the relief wanted. Diver- 

 sion of the traffic into lateral avenues is not wanted until all this 

 has been attained, and the traffic increased more than threefold. 



Finally, I would suggest the trial of apiece of smooth iron walk, 

 in the Park. It would wear shoes far less than stone, and make 

 no dirt. 



The subject for the next meeting, " Traction of Carriages." 



The Club then adjourned. 



H. MEIGS, Secretary. 



^prz7 22, 1857. 



Present — Messrs. Tillman, Haskell, Fisher, Brundage, Ander- 

 son, Cogswell, Godwin, Sibley and others — 16 members in all. 



The regular chairman Mr. Haswell being absent, Mr. Haskell 

 was chosen chairman. Henry Meigs, Secretary. 



Mr. Brundage exhibited and explained the horse shoe nail ma- 

 chine, (model) patented by him. 



The Club examined it carefully, and the nails made by it, and 

 it was referred to a committee. The machine imitates the manual 

 operation of hammering with accuracy; the nails appear to be 

 more exactly and evenly hammered than hand made nails. 



The subject of Traction was called up. 



Mr. S. D. Tillman introduced the subject "Traction'' by giving 

 a brief account of the general state of the roads of this country be- 

 fore the introduction of the railroad. The first improvements in 

 the art of locomotion in this country, were confined to the con- 

 struction of vehicles. Carriages were made with higher wheels and 

 with more effective springs. Then an attempt was made to remove 

 impediments to the smooth running of wheels. Many experiments 

 were made with pounded and flat stones, but it was not until the 

 introduction of the railroad that the problem of best means, loco- 

 motion was solved. Having a perfectly smooth and solid track, 

 only wide enough for the wheel, which is kept upon it by a 

 flanch; this kind of road must be the most economical as well as 

 the best. But when carriages cannot run in one continuous line 

 and animal power is used for moving them, a road must be smooth 

 in every direction, and yet give the animals when upon it a good 

 foothold 



The Russ pavement, so called, in Broadway, is the best road 

 for the carriage and the worst for the liorses drawing it. The 

 Belgium pavement is better because stones are laid down at right 

 angles to the road way, so that the corks of a horse shoe can en- 



