In dealing with Steam Transport on Common Roads the following division of the subject is usually adopted: -<br><br>1. Road Locomotives for the conveyance of Passengers, Parcels, and light goods at quick speeds.<br><br>2. Road Locomotives for Heavy Haulage and the conveyance of goods at slow speeds.<br><br>3. Agricultural Locomotives for use on farms.<br><br>In the present work the history of steam locomotion has been traced from the earliest down to modern times. The engines belonging to the first division being fully illustrated and described; the latter portion of the book also contains illustrations and much practical information relating to road locomotives placed under the second head.<br><br>The book is divided into seven sections: -<br><br>Introduction.<br><br>The Period of Speculation.<br><br>The Period of Experiment.<br><br>The Period of Successful Application.<br><br>The Modern Period.<br><br>Practical Notes on the Design and Construction of Road Locomotives.<br><br>Traction Engine Law.<br><br>The first five sections are chiefly historical, the Modern Period, however, contains many useful notes and tables of dimensions.<br><br>This work is a far more exhaustive treatise on this subject than has hitherto been attempted. There is not a book in existence which gives anything like a complete history of steam locomotion on common roads.