Wagon

A vehicle for the conveyance of goods or pa engers, is mounted on four wheels, but varies considerably in the construction of its other parts, according to the species of traffic in which it is employed. They are used by armies for the transportation of subsistence, other military stores, baggage, ammunition, sick and wounded. The following wagon has been adopted for use in the service of the U. S. army: The body to be straight, 3 feet 6 inches wide, 1 foot 9 inches deep, 9 feet 6 inches long at the bottom, and 10 feet at the top, sloping equally at each end, all in the clear or inside; the floor 9 feet 10 1 ⁄ 2 inches long, 3 feet 6 inches wide, and 7 1 ⁄ 8 inches thick. Top sides 6 inches wide, 7 1 ⁄ 8 inches thick, 10 feet 2 inches long on the bottom edge, sloping the same as the lower side boards. Six bows of good ash or oak, 2 inches wide, 1 ⁄ 2 inch thick, with three staples to confine the ridge-pole to its place; one ridge-pole 11 feet 3 inches long, 1 3 ⁄ 4 inches wide, 5 ⁄ 8 inch thick; seat-boards 3 feet 6 inches long, 1 foot wide, 7 ⁄ 8 inch thick to rest on top edge of sides on upright spiral springs, so arranged as to be used with or without the top sides; two plates 7 inches long, 1 1 ⁄ 2 inches wide, 3 ⁄ 4 inch thick, with two bolts in each, for the front wheels to strike against in turning the wagon. The tongue to be 10 feet 6 inches long, 4 inches wide, 2 1 ⁄ 4 inches deep at front end of hounds, 1 3 ⁄ 4 inches wide, and 2 1 ⁄ 4 inches deep at point or front end, and so arranged as to lift up the front end of it to hang within 2 feet 6 inches of the ground when the wagon is standing at rest on a level surface; front hounds 6 feet long, 2 1 ⁄ 4 inches deep, 3 1 ⁄ 2 inches wide over axle, and to retain that width to the back end of tongue; jaws of hounds 1 foot 6 inches long and 2 1 ⁄ 4 inches square at the front end. Axle-stock 4 feet 1 ⁄ 2 inch long, 3 1 ⁄ 2 inches wide, 3 1 ⁄ 4 inches deep. Hind hounds 4 feet 11 inches long, 2 1 ⁄ 4 inches deep, and 2 3 ⁄ 4 inches wide back, and 2 1 ⁄ 2 inches wide front; jaws 10 inches long and 4 inches wide at the end where they rest on coupling-pole. Coupling-pole 8 feet 9 inches long, 3 1 ⁄ 2 inches wide, 2 3 ⁄ 8 inches deep, with a rivet through front end. Wheels 3 feet 8 inches and 4 feet 8 inches high; sixteen spokes 2 inches wide and 2 inches thick at hub, and 2 inches wide and 1 1 ⁄ 2 inches thick at felloes; eight felloes 2 inches wide, 2 3 ⁄ 8 inches deep; hubs 9 inches diameter at flanges, 3 1 ⁄ 2 inches diameter at front, 4 inches diameter at back end, 12 inches long; tires 2 inches wide, 1 ⁄ 2 inch thick, fastened with 8 screw-bolts, one in each felloe. Distance from the centre of king-bolt hole to centre of back axle, 5 feet 9 1 ⁄ 2 inches; and from centre of king-bolt hole to the centre of bolt in jaw of hind hounds, 1 foot 10 inches; distance from the centre of hind axle to centre of bolt in jaw of hind hounds, 3 feet 11 1 ⁄ 2 inches, and from the centre of king-bolt to centre of slider 2 feet 2 1 ⁄ 2 inches; distance between the inside of front and hind standards, 5 feet 8 1 ⁄ 2 inches,—to receive the body, which is 5 feet 8 inches from outside to outside of cleats of sides. Weight of model wagon, 1325 pounds, complete, for four horses or mules. See Ordnance, Carriages for , Traveling Kitchen , and Traveling Forge .