House of Commons, Great Britain

“ Supposing that on two roads the toll on a Coach calculated to carry eighteen persons, was 2s, and on the other 3s, how would you propose that any scale should be adopted by which a toll could be introduced applicable to both those roads?—My opinion is that the toll on Steam Carriages ought not to exceed one half of the toil paid by other vehicles drawn by horses, because they do not injure the roads more than in that proportion, probably not so much, the the tires of the wheel having been increased in proportion. ”

“ If you are able to drive up one of the steepest hills at the rate of fifteen miles, how is it that you give your average speed at less than ten?—The reason we travelled with greater speed up the hill is, that the fire was better in order on ascending the hill than whilst travelling on the level road, and caused a greater generation of Steam. ”

“ From your experience in Steam Carriages, do you, conceive that it will be necessary to make any alteration of the present roads, such as paving them for the purpose of this mode of conveyance?—No, certainly not; we have found that our vehicles will travel over every kind of road with great velocity, and up the steepest hills ”

“ I think the tolls should be in proportion to the weight which such vehicles are capable of carrying, the velocity of the vehicle travelling on the roads not materially affecting the state of them.
Many Turnpike Acts having passed this Session, which place tolls on Steam. Carriages, how would Parliament be able to adopt one principle of placing toll on the passengers?—The proprietors of Steam Vehicles will always carry as many passengers as they can, and the greatest number of passengers that they are able to carry should be the standard at which the tolls should be levied. ”

“ What becomes of the carbonate of lime and the sulphate of lime, and so on, which are in solution in different waters?—Every time after we have arrived at our journey's end, we open a cock communicating with the bottom of the boiler; perhaps we do not give the matter time enough to rest, it is all blown out at the pressure of 240 lbs, on the square inch. ”

“ Does that produce any disagreeable effect to the passengers?—None whatever; all the waste steam is blown into the furnace, which entirely prevents any noise that can be beard on the road.
İt has been stated to the Committee, that in some Steam Carriages actually in operation, there is a very peculiar noise from the escape of the steam, from whence does that proceed?—It proceeds in one Carriage, which I have seen running along the roads, from the steam being blown in at the bottom part of the chimney of the furnace, at a distance very near to the open air. ”

“ What is the thickness of the iron?—About onetenth of an incb; thin boilers last longer in proportion than thick ones, because the heat sooner passes through into the water, and has not time to act upon the iron. ”