96 THE COACHING AGE. 



ironwork belonging to them is avoided. In the 

 second place, a greater degree of safety is obtained 

 by this plan ; the coaches are not so liable to over- 

 turn, either when running in a direct line, or upon 

 the lock for the purpose of turning.' This he said he 

 had proved by experiment as well as by observation 

 of the number of accidents which had occurred. The 

 plan of coaches without perches, he said, was not 

 only more economical in building, but at the same 

 time a great saving in necessary repairs. The 

 fore-carriages with perches were continually getting 

 out of repair, the ironwork getting loose, wearing 

 out, or breaking in a short time of running. As 

 a contractor he experienced great inconvenience from 

 being compelled to adopt the plan of the mails, 

 not only from the heavy expenses to which he was 

 subject, but from the great trouble and difficulty 

 of keeping the coaches in an effective state in con- 

 sequence of the immense repairs necessarily attendant 

 on perch-coaches. 



By way of confirmation of his opinion as to the 

 great advantages of the coaches without perches, he 

 gave some instances in his business, one being of a 

 day coach he had had in use for eight years without 

 any of the timber being renewed. For the Cork 

 mail — running with twelve outside passengers, includ- 

 ing coachman and guard, he furnished large coaches 



