February 1, 1868

TRACTION ENGINES COMING TO ONTARIO

The Ontario Legislature delayed debate on Bill 50, An Act to authorize and regulate the use of Traction Engines on Highways, introduced by Frederick Cumberland (Conservative, Algoma).

The delay came following a lengthy informal debate after Cumberland moved second reading. In his opening statement, Cumberland said he had been approached following the election by the Gooderham and Worts Company seeking authorization to run the engines on provincial highways.

The distillery recently purchased one of the locomotive engines, designed to run on road rather than rail, but it was lost when the ship transporting it from England was wrecked. Cumberland has estimated that a six-horse power engine, weighing six tons and costing $1,200, could pull a load of 18 tons on a level road. A ten-horse power engine, weighs twelve tons, and can pull 30 tons on a level road.

The introduction of these engines to Ontario will require the straightening and macadamizing of the roads as well as regulations to govern the passing of other parties.

The premier, Hon. Sandfield Macdonald was concerned about what should occur if the operator of one of these traction engines was to encounter a horse that refused to pass it. He hoped that any farmer forced to turn around and return to a concession line would be compensated for his time.

Archibald McKeller (Liberal, Bothwell) downplayed Macdonald’s worries, saying that the horses and cattle had adapted to the introduction of trains and would do so just as easily with the introduction of traction engines. Nonetheless, a formal debate has been held over until next week.