New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-07-01
BETHEL.

Army WAGoss And TnAssP0RrsrIos.--h u wos-
derf TO think of the resources Of The States inhabited
by greasy mechanics and still wonderful Ia
zee with what eeerity they provide the ejmnsnd
ers Of our army with all that il necessary in tie Corr
msserait Department. On the 10Th OfApril there
no means of transportation for an army in ezisleaee.
Z" Army wagons" were among the unknown things 10
TIE North. Thee useful vehicles are never kept on
hand AT the close Of the Mexican war the amy
Wagons were "sol1 for a song-the song Of the aus-
,ioneor and very little money Many Southern Plan
ter stocked his plsce with good wagons st less money
than the iron would now cell for as old scrap
We saw a lot of these wagons sold in New-0reaus
a. less than the amount that had been paid for freight
from Boston. Unfortunately then, now, some Of
these hastiy-built, Government contract vehicles,
were not worth much more than the value Of OLD iTon
The geates error about their construction arses FROM
want of knowledge ON the part Of the oicors, who
order and accept hem Of The great Improvements thai
have taken place in this branch ofnechansm within
fow years.
In our young days, al fam wagons and carts hsd
wooden axles and great blbs end PIPE boxes to suit
the necessary size Of the modern shaft. Then came
castron arms TO axles and these though an improve
ment upon the old hard-ficton wooden axlos, coon
gave place to wrought-iron and smaller PIPE boxes,
| aud now no enterpIisiDg farmer would use wooden
| axlea. And no farmer, who knows of still iates
| mprovement-an improvement upon all other iron
sxlcs az great as iron wood-wil now buy new
wagon that is not provided with ease-haEdened axes
and chilled pipe boxee for this improvement ssyea
| nearly p PER cent of motive power
Some Of the farmers and marketgnTdeners ~ ont thh
city cay that they can do their work with two horses,
working every day, upon one OF these improved
wagons, with greater ease than formerly with io1s
| horses, changing every day and having keep ere
pair idle to rest day and day about, m srmsrs
gain so much by using the bes; kind Of agons, why
should ar army be cursed vita The fashio Of bygone
agesl A'friend Of ours saw lately in Washington
wagon but n few weeks.in use, dawn by four mule
which seemed to labor 50 hard with tn empty vehicle
that he was induced to inqrire the sscn why Of tbs
dryer. who happened to he an my ,Igott man who
knew whereof he spObe. lie said at thairou of tie
axle and boxes was 30 eft that Il was already hal
worn Out. Il could not stand 10 sbsrp sand of ths
sacred soil Il Virginia" Nv nv. Sir" said he " Il
hsa such wagon as used TOT drive every day to tn.
Nex.York Market last year. l. could DO nv work via
two mules q great deal cas- er than can now with
four aud that Is what ealls coNmy. The axles ami
and boxes were ss hard and smooth az elsss Rnd
w,ou; grease would ran' IS easy as these do with.
tell you what IL is, If the Government would LEI soa,o
Of the drivers buy the Wagons. it would get totev
&c. than they do now. wouldn't have one witLoui
chilled boxes, and sxls az hard as II; cause you sc.
we can't elways ge. .rease here"
There is sense In these remarks, wlfch should pro
duce profitable rS alts. The fsssriyer about New
York would as so,n think Of making time in Mexican
cart as in OH ayle ion axle wagon. They go tos
AL modern Improvements" Government should do
| the same.