Compressed Air upon Tramways

Abstract

FEW persons unconnected with the practical working of the companies are aware of the great amount of time, labour, and money which have been devoted to the substitution of mechanical for horse-power upon tramways both in this country and abroad. The principal incentive to this exertion has been the large margin of saving which has presented itself in the light of a premium to inventors and capitalists. Motives of humanity towards the horses have also had considerable influence, especially with Parliament, and have contributed in no small degree to the legislative sanctions which have been obtained not only by particular companies, but by the tramway interest in general. In no case however that the writer is aware of, have the tramway companies themselves made any material contributions towards the solution of the problems involved. When the story of the subject comes to be written it will be found full of arguments in favour of the principle that the monopoly granted to inventors by the patent laws is nothing more than a clumsy method of spurring them to exertion, and of providing a remuneration for success which never covers the aggregate losses of failure by which the whole community have been indirectly benefited.