Tram-Caes And Omnibuses.

The cost of London tramway car and omnibus horses is from £ 39 10 s . to £ 43 . The age when horses for this kind of traffic are considered capable of doing their work is rising five years , and with proper care and dieting of say 301 bs . of food ,

and running fifteen miles per day all the year round , they will be good for their work in London or our large provincial toivns for an average of five years , although on a level tramAvay and no Sunday work they may last for twelve years . The

London General Omnibus Company send about 1 , 000 annually to the slaughterers , besides selling by auction 600 to 700 at £ 9 or £ 10 each . Horses which do not die of disease , get worn and strained about their feet and legs , and have to be sold as

unequal to do this kind of work , and then used for purposes where pace is not requited . The chief maladies they suffer from are similar to ordinary draughthorses , such as colds , injuries , cracked heels , sand cracks , springs at their knees ,

and quitters , which latter is a hard round SAvelling upon the coronet , betAveen the heel and the quarter . The foregoing remarks serve in a manner to show the cost and wear and tear gomg on with both live and rolling stock , and anything that engineers or patentees can do to reduce this to a minimum should be done .

While so many schemes are being tried to introduce other motive power than horses , it would appear that until very latel y the idea has not been entertained of storing up that power used in breaking and stopping the cars , so as to utilise it for

starting and propelling . This is now being tried by Mr . A . Squire , of Howland Street , Tottenham Court Eoad , with some prospects of success . He proposes to a Pply it to both omnibuses and tram-cars , a pd it is surprising to think that such a

simple contrivance has not been used before ; it is only a pair of ordinary laminated carriage springs , such as are used m every light carriage , being straightened ° at by means of a chain winding round a dutch box on the axlethus braking the

, wheels and throwing out of gear , irhen the driver wishes to start the car , thereby fisting to propel it , and saving much strain upon the horses—a subject well worth y the support of the Society for

Prevention of Cruelty to Animals , tho more so when Ave knoAV that from 1 , 600 to 1 , 700 London General Omnibus Company's horses are broken down every year . Steam will , no doubt , supersede horse

poiver for this work , at some future time ; and we all must Avish our respected fellowmember , Mr . Perrett , every success he may desire in his endeavours to perfect the steam tram-car he kindly shoived the members ancl friends of this Society in the last session .

AMEBICAN TRAMWAYS . Age of Horses . —It is not considered judicious to put a horse at tranrway work at less than six years of age . A horse is at his prime at about eight years old , and a good selection of horses will average a

service of four years , though many horses do better . Formerly three to three-and-a-half years was considered the average service of horses , but improvements in the lightness and easy running of tram-cars has become relief to horses .

Injury to Horses . —The feet of horses suffer from the constant travel on the stone pavements , and the limbs from the strain in starting the car , enhanced Avith us by the extreme loads carried . Sickness . —Horses are also affected ivith various diseases caused by the bad

ventilation of their stables . Weight of Cars . —The " Imperials , " or top-seat cars , which Messrs . John Stephenson and Co ., of NeAV York , send to Europe , weigh 4 , 800 to 5 , 000 lbs . The " TAvo-horse " carsused in New Yorkof

, , their make , weigh 4 , 300 to 4 , 800 lbs . ; but they make cars of the same seating capacity , weighing 3 , 700 to 4 , 300 lbs . These latter are used in South America and in some of the continental cities of Europe . Weight of passengers addedabout 1501 bs .

, each , therefore the car with top seats , seating 44 persons , aggregates about 11 , 600 lbs . The New York practise is for cars 4 , 800 lbs ., and eighty passengers at 1501 bs . each , equals 16 , 800 lbs . The difference in the efficiency of the horses is

largely caused by the form of the tram rail , the English practise being a groove rail , which causes almost unceasing contact of the wheel . flange , while the American form of rail being open at one side , per-B