Bepbrt on the Implertlhits 
The roller attachment (Art. 5589) doubtless commands 
more attention than the several points of novelty briefly indi- 
cated in the traction engine, for at a veiy small cost almost any 
traction or ploughing engine may be converted into a road 
roller. This is no unimportant consideration when it is borne 
in mind — first, that there are many districts which would gladly 
have their roads made and rolled by a steam roller, but which 
cannot afford to invest in such expensive plant as a steam road 
roller, which can only be used for such purpose ; secondly, there 
are hundreds of traction or ploughing engines throughout the 
country which are standing idle just during that time of year 
when the work of road rolling might most efficiently be carried 
out. 
It is clear, therefore, that if some of the traction engines 
which now stand idle during parts of the year were fitted with 
the roller attachment, they would be not only available, but in de- 
mand, for the rolling of the roads in their surrounding districts, 
to the advantage greatly of the owners of vehicles, who will 
probably before long become awai'e that the most expensive way 
of rolling our roads is that in vogue at the present time in many 
places, viz., using carriages and carts for the purpose. 
The attachment simply consists first of a roller with a frame 
which carries the pivot of the fore carriage of the engine, the 
ordinary steering chains being attached to this frame on either 
side of the roller. The frame is carried back towards the fire- 
box underneath the boiler, a channel iron guide is riveted on 
to the fire-box, and in this guide the prolongation of the frame 
carrying the roller works. It is only necessary to have this 
guide attached to the fire-box underneath the boiler, to remove 
the fore carriage of the engine and substitute the roller, and, so 
far as the fore part of the engine is concerned, it is at once con- 
verted into a road roller. As for the two hind wheels, all that 
has to be done with them is to bolt segmental smooth plates 
round the periphery of the wheels. 
This attachment certainly appears to meet a distinct want, 
and it is only to be regi'etted that such an appliance should 
have been sent into a show-yard without having had it fitted on to 
the particular engine it was supposed to suit. The result was 
that the Judges were unable to see it actually applied, and con- 
sequently, from a trifling error in workmanship, could not take 
such notice of it as otherwise they might have done. 
Me.^srs. J. ct H. McLaren, Leeds, showed a compound semi- 
portable engine with the cylinders over the boiler at the chimney 
end. and fitted with Hartnell & Turners expansion motioii. 
(Art. 5951.) 
