182 
MINUTES OF PKOCEEDINGS OF 
are shod with steel, iron being the commoner material. The steel is 
much more expensive, but it has the great advantages of lasting much 
longer, and not “ hanging ” so much as iron when it comes in contact 
with a stone. 
It is indispensably necessary that the shoes of the runners, whether 
they be of iron or steel be polished before starting on a journey : this 
can readily be done by means of a piece of wood and some sand. If 
not polished before starting the rough metal takes a long time to wear 
smooth, and the draught is much heavier. 
The ‘‘ben- (2) The “benches,” are four pieces which connect the runners together, 
ehes. They are arch-shaped, and are made of a single piece, Fig. 1. They 
Fig. 1. 
are generally 9 in. in height, and 4 in. thick. Thus, the bed of the 
sleigh which rests on them is not more than 14 in. from the ground, 
offering a favourable contrast to those of the English made sleds which 
were nearly three times the distance. 
There are two ways of fastening these benches to the runners, viz. 
Method of by wooden pins, or by iron bolts. Both systems have their advantages, 
the benches The pins, whether of wood or of iron are inserted into the runners, but 
to the 
“ runners.’ 
Wooden 
pins corn- _ 
E-oii pks! h that there is to prevent the bed of the sleigh being lifted off the 
runners; if iron pins are used there is a nut on the top, which 
being screwed down keeps everything in its place. At first sight it 
may appear that the iron pins are better than the wood, but there is 
much to be said on both sides; and the wooden ones seem generally 
preferred for this reason, that if the sled be subjected to any very 
severe “ slew,” ( i.e . if one side of the road shelves down to one side, 
and the sled sways suddenly down), the pins will break and the runners 
do not pass through the benches; they fit into channels cut in their 
sides for them 
Fig. 2 shows the ends of the two benches connected together by 
the “rave,” (see p. 183), and also the general arrangement of the 
pins. If wooden pins are used, a wedge is driven into a split in 
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