242 Déefeription of a Coal Waggon, Way, Sc.-[OdŒ.

The top of the fore part of the waggon projets farther out than the bottom; therefore the greateſt part of the loading is fup- ported on the fore wheels, and conſequently the waggon, when in motion, is drawn with leſs force than if the fore part did not projet at all. The draught is alſo leſſenèd by the fore wheels being conſiderably larger than the bind. E. is the convoyz being a fÎrong curving piece of Alder-wood, whoſe end(c) is képt in- differently tight in the Ring-iron(d) by little wedges, called Scotches, depoſited in a box(e) called the Scotch-box, and kept from touching the wheel by hanging its end( /) in a loop of lea- thec(g), faſtened to the hind Corner-Sheth of the waggon. Its uſe is to regulate the motion of the waggon down the fides of the bills(called by the waggon-men, Runs) making it uniform, which, by the laws of motion, would be accelerated was no ſuch regulation to take place; the waggon-man, taking the end CO out of the loop, lets it down upon the wheel, and, placing himſelf aftride upon the end(£), with one foot on the waggon- ' ſoal, he preſſes more, or leſs, according to the nature of the de- clivity of the Run; the Convoy acting at that time as a leaver of the ſccond kind, whoſe fulcrum is in the Ring-iron(d), and the fri&ion of the Breaſts(b, bh),(either of which may be uſed at pleaſure) regulates the motion; the large iron(#) is called the

lind-iron, and binders the convoy from flipping of the ſide of the wheel.

Wagsgon-men, in going down very ſteep Runs, always take their horſes from before, and faſten them behind their waggons as they would inevitably be Killed was the convoy to break(which frequently happens), or any other accident occaſion their wag- gons to run amainz; nor is this fatal conſequence only attendant on the horſes, but the drivers often receivè broken bones, bruiſes, and frequently the moſt excruciating deaths. Indeed, in ſome places, a mot humane cuſtom is eſtabliſhed, which is, when any waggon-man loſes his horſe, the other waggon-men go 2 Gait(a journey to the Staith) for the poor ſufferer, which is a lit- tle oué of their profits, and purchaſe him another horſe.

When the waggon arrives at the Staiths, he lets down his Bot- tom-board, which is the bottom of the waggon, having Hinges on onc fide, and a Haſp on the other; and the coals run down an opening in the waggon-way under the waggon, which has a box projeéting of the dike of the Staith upon the water, under which the keels are placed which receive the coals; ſometimes when there are no keels at the Staith, the waggons are emptied into the Staith-houſe, from thence to be loaded in the Kkeels by barrows. If a waggon-man chance to break the axle of his wheel, ſo that his waggon falls, it is called a Cold-pye(or Coal pye); and che cuſtom is, if he can but get a /hovel-full of coals carried in bis waggon to the Staiths, he. is paid for his Cait, otherwiſe not. Î