j THB: Commercial and Agricultural Magazine.

A 4 GARANTE

No. XV.] OCTOBER, 1800.[Vor UL

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DESCRIPTION OF A COAL WAGGON, STAITH» AND WAGGON-WAY.

HE Northern Coal Mines have produced more uſeful in- ventions than any‘other ſingle occupation.“ To them 18 to be aſcribed the progreſſive improvements of the immenſe pow- ers of the Steam-Engine, and to them the œconomical invention of the Rail-roads for, facilitating the carriage of the Coals to the water ſide. This attempt was the more“extraordinary, as the necellities of the Coal-mines for props, machinery,&c. had pre- viouſly uſed up every flick of timber in the neighbourhood, and the import from returning colliers(coal-ſhips) was the de re- ſource. This however fuficed; and, before. a‘pit 1s opened, ground is purchaſed for a future ERB with more regard to a gradual flope than to the diftance from the water fide, The flope or level is preſerved at great expence;z bridges are ſome- times carried over vallies for this purpoſe. This is abſo! utely neceſlary, fince a ſingle horſe could not otherwiſe convey ſuch an immenſe weight; the leaſt perceprible riſe of ground wouid ſtop him. When che road is carefully levelled and ſloped, the rails (which are uſually of beëch, about two inches and a half ſquare) are hd down on the road, o aine parallel at the diſtance’ of the breadth ot the waggon-wheels apart. They are fixed by crols pieces of wood pegged into the under ſide of them, and covered with earth, Jeſt-the horſe Mould trip againft them. The wheels of the waggon were formerly of wood, but now of caſt iron.— The Guttide of the tim lefs than the RE ſo that the wheels can never ſlip off the rail. The annexed plate repreſents the‘Coal Waggon, on which is ſeen the ingenious contrivance of the Con- Uoy, to regulate the rapidity of deſcent.

Deſcription.] A. repreſents the body of the waggon, loaded with coals, B, drawn by a ſingle horſe C. by means of the tiáces a, a, and condudéted or drove by a fiagle man, called the Faug- gon-man, whoſe moſt cominon action on the road is, enticinz his horſe forward with a bit of hay in his hand, which he(üppliés from under his arm S.; the guantity of hay ſuflcient foïa day being kept in the Hay- Dole(or Bag) D.+ The body of thèwag- gon is in form of an inverted priſmoid, compoſed of prétty frong fir deals, having frong pieces of. oak or aſh wood at the böttom called Soals, at‘the corners and Tides cailed Sheths, and, at the top, called Overings, which are occafionally raiſed with Ledsgesto make the waggon hold any additional guantity.

COM.& AG. MAG, pl

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