ey shrink but little, and seldom want repairing. As,
however, this wood is not easily procured in the Northern States, white
oak answers a very good purpose if well seasoned.

Spring wagons made in Concord, New Hampshire, are used to transport
passengers and the mails upon some of the routes across the plains, and
they are said, by those who have used them, to be much superior to any
others. They are made of the close-grained oak that grows in a high
northern latitude, and well seasoned.

The pole of the wagon should have a joint where it enters the hounds,
to prevent the weight from coming upon it and breaking the hounds in
passing short and abrupt holes in the road.

The perch or coupling-pole should be shifting or movable, as, in the
event of the loss of a wheel, an axle, or other accident rendering it
necessary to abandon the wagon, a temporary cart may be constructed out
of the remaining portion. The tires should be examined just before
commencing the journey, and, if not perfectly snug, reset.

One of the chief causes of accidents to carriages upon the plains
arises from the nuts coming off from the numerous bolts that secure the
running gearing. To prevent this, the ends of all the bolts should be
riveted; it is seldom necessary to take them off, and when this is
required the ends of the bolts may easily be filed away.

Wagons with six mules should never, on a long journey over the
prairies, be loaded with over 2000 pounds, unless grain is transported,
when an additional thousand pounds may be taken, provided it is fed out
daily to the team. When grass constitutes the only forage, 2000 pounds
is deemed a sufficient load. I regard our government wagons as
unnecessarily heavy for six mules. There is sufficient material in them
to sustain a burden of 4000 pounds, but they are seldom loaded with
more than half that weight. Every wagon should be furnished with
substantial bows and double osnaburg covers, to protect its contents
from the sun and weather.

There has been much discussion regarding the relative merits of mules
and oxen for prairie traveling, and the question is yet far from being
settled. Upon good firm roads, in a populated country, where grain can
be procured, I should unquestionably give the preference to mules, as
they travel faster, and endure the heat of summer much better than
oxen; and if the journey be not over 1000 miles, and the grass
abundant, even without grain, I think mules would be p