Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1874-11-21
THE IRON WAGON.

| of last week, We did not anticipate the
necessity for, again, encumbering your
columns with anything more about the
the Iron Wagon; but it is hard to
foresee how much smoke spark may
create. IF you will bear with US this
time, we think it will be our last tres
pass upon your columns, in this con-
nection, for
man convinced against his will,
Is of the same opinion still.
Mr.. Ingram characteristics our in
quiries as natured insiuuations.
Such was not our intention, but his re-
/ ply is strongly favored with Immature
and, in his two and three quarter col
umns article. he has made but thin
defense. He thinks we ought to have
singed another name, or rather have
kept quiet Perhaps, but we heard it
proclaimed on the night of the 9th,
that the battle was fought, the victory
won and the people free; so, being one
of the people, we felt free to PROFOUND
| the inquiries in last week S CHRONICLE;
but Mr.. Ingram seems to think all are
not free and he, is free to speak. But
to his reply. To our first, he says
there is no point, but there we differ
with him. He says to apply it in the
shape of a wheel and the gearing of a
wagon, iron is the strongest-severe
tests do not prove this assertion to be
true. He says wagon made Of wood,
without the addition of iron is worth
less-this every one knows. He gives
the weight of the ironwagon, and says
the same weight of wood and iron COM
bined, is not near so strong. This as
sumption is new TO US, for every one
who knows anything about the strength
of wood and iron, knows that the two
combined, are stronger than either by
itself. He also says that the question,
of iron or feathers is without applica-
ton to the subject, but defeats his own
argument BY saying that loose strain
and everything bulky, relieves itself of
elasticity, and that iron. bricks &c. &c,
are dead weight. Just what we claim;
between two wagons, the iron one is
dead weight, aud when the wheel
strikes against anything solid, it is
dead weight, whilst the wooden wheel
relieves itself by means of its own
elasticity and, therefore, is lightest ON
the team. He farther says the iron
wagon is the lightest draught, and tries
to explain why, but we can't sec it in
the same light. His first point is, that
the spindle is larger than that of the
two horse wooden axle. We believe
it is about the same size; but if that
of the iron wagon is larger than the
spindle Of the wooden axle, it is say
ing but little for the strength Of iron.
We admit that large spindle
runs lighter in mud, bnt his is no larg-
er. He also asserts that people in the
country prefer wood axles, or thimble
skiens to iron axles We don't find it
so, at least, in this country He claims
also, that the iron wagon runs lightest
because it has only twenty inches bear
ing, whilst the wooden, or ordinary iron
axle has forty-four inches. Now this
is mistake; as general rule
wooden axle has but four and a half
inches bearing True, the spindle may
be eleven inches, as he claims, still it
does not bear on the whole length he
claims, that his spindles have five
inches. whilst we claim that the com
mon wood, or iron spindle has but
four and half inches bearing, still he
claims less friction. Let US see how
this will work-taking the iron spindle
with five inches bearing. All who
know anything about wagons, are aware
that the spindle does not fit in the /
wheel. as it does in a ear wheel, but is !
no more or less loose. and the longer
it runs, the looser it gets in the box. /
Suppose the spindle has one sixteenth /
of an inch play which is very little.
Now put the wheel on this five inch 1
spindle, then suppose the wheel TO be |
the usual hight-four feet, eight inches, :
then from the centre to the circumfer- /
ence, will be two feet four inches,
how much willth circumference vary,
with a play of one sixteenth of an
inch? Take the eleven inch spindle
with the same play in the box, and
find the difference of variation. We 1
think the longer spindle has the
advantage for, if the iron of the wheel
vary one quarter of an inch, on FIVE
inch bearing, it is less than half of
that on an eleven inch spindle.
Mr.. Ingram also informs Us that the
s. ndle Of the iron wagon is patented