 The length of the side pieces and shafts were about six or seven feet, with three or four binding crossbars from the back part to the fore part of the body of the cart, and the lead space for a man to pull the cart was two or three feet. When necessary, the wife and or the children would push. The hand carts could be loaded with four to five hundred pounds of flour, bedding, extra clothing, cooking utensils, and a tent.