House of Commons, Great Britain

“ What effect do you think your Carriage has upon the road, in proportion with a Carriage equally loaded, with four horses?—I think, myself, we should rather improve the roads by the operation of our Engines, because a Steam Coach requires broad wheels, perfectly upright and flat on the outside of the tire. ”

“ Do you apply a second Carriage to your Engine for passengers, or do you carry them in the same Carriage?—The boiler is placed behind the Carriage; there is an engine-house between the boiler and the Carriage; the Engines are placed perpendicular between the passengers and the boiler, and the fore part of the vehicle is for the passengers, so that all the machinery is quite behind the Carriage, and the fore part of the Carriage entirely for the convenience of passengers. ”

“ Supposing that a common coach at present takes eighteen persons, and you, by improvement of your coaches, could take thirty-six persons, how would you apportion the rate of tolls that you ought to pay?—In that case, I think the fairest way would be to have it in proportion to the number of persons that are carried. ”

“ Would there be 'no danger in that?—No, I think not; it would throw a strain on the Engines; the rate of eight miles an hour is not so great;' it is only in extreme cases that that would be done. I am very frequently obliged to pull up very short, from children running in the road.
Of what materials are your wheels made?—Like common dished wheels, they ought to be 'perfectly cylindrical. I merely took them to avoid expence; they were wheels which I had by me. ”

“ What size?—Twelve inches in the stroke, and nine inches in the bore.
Has your Engine met with accidents?—No, except once I broke my chain; but in the course of five minutes we could replace that chain, by taking an extra chain with us.
Are your boilers easily cleaned?—In all the experience I have had with the working of boilers, I have found that they never require cleaning. I consider that the ebullition is so rapid, and the action of water so violent, that it will not allow any dirt to fix. ”

“ In what proportion to what is charged by stage coaches do you think you should be able to charge your fares?—I think the fares would be reduced to two thirds, after a short time, if supported and not over burdened by tolls. ”

“ Do you consider that such breadth would be as good as any other, the best you could make?—Yes; because a broad wheel on gravel is considered to be a great advantage; it is a great disadvantage on a road which is between wet and dry ”