58 
Report on the Agricultural Implements at 
well. These machines were generally made for 2 to 4 horse-power, 
according to whether the tread-power or the horizontal-gear were 
employed, for it is an undoubted fact that much more duty can 
be got out of horses on the tread-mill than in working through 
ordinary gear — a strong prejudice exists against tread-powers 
under the idea that the labour is too severe, and that the animals 
suffer in their ankles and feet. This, undoubtedly, has been the 
case where the angle of the tread has been excessive, but pro- 
perly adjusted with a sufficiently large driving-wheel and good 
bearings, the pace of travel not exceeding 1£ mile per hour, 
and the elevation not exceeding 14 or 15 degrees, it is quite pos- 
sible that horses may actually gather weight whilst so employed ; 
at any rate there is neither cruelty nor excessive depreciation, and 
for driving small threshing-machines, chaff-cutting, root-slicing, 
&c, such a power is very economical. 
I select for illustration The Level-Tread Bailway Horse-powers made by 
Heebner and Sons, Pa., with patent governor or speed regulator. The 
Figs. 49-51. — Level-Tread Bailway. 
Fig. 49. 
Fig. 50. 
track-wheels which support the tread power are large, Sj-inch diameter; reels 
are provided at the front and rear end of tbe track, by which the endless 
chain is carried from the top to the bottom 
track and from the bottom to the top track 
in place of circles. This is advantageous as 
tending to stop the revolution of the wheels, 
which on reaching the lower track are set to 
work at once in the opposite direction. One 
special feature in this machine is the form 
of the platform, made of pieces of plank of 
suitable length, with tenons on the end, 
which are received in mortises in iron links, 
so constructed as to place the plank per- 
fectly level for the horse to walk on, and are 
connected together with rolled-iron rods, 
which also serve as axles for the track- 
s' • wheels. The governor will be best under- 
stood by reference to the annexed drawings. 
