Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-06-02
RAIT. ROAD.

The following extract of a letter from one of
the persons employed in obtaining information
for the use of Tie, Baltimore and Ohio Rail Road
Company, will be read with much interest by
our fellow citizens Ball. Gazette.
"Easton, Penn May 24.-Yesterday, after
breakfast, we started on the Rail Road at Mauch
Chunck, in a neat little Car, attachedto the rear
ola brigade Of empty wagons, and were drawn
up to the coal mines, a distance Of nine miles,
in 2 hours; three empty wagons are drawn up
with great ease by one horse.
"After having examined The coal mines there,
we started back in one car joined 10 another,
with Q party of fourteen persons, and descend
minutes. A part Of The time our car travelled
more than at the rate Of 30 miles an hour, and
we came one entire mile in three minutes and
fifteen seconds, which is at the Fate Of nineteen
miles an hour. The reason of our travelling at
such different speed on diFe rent parts of the
route, is, because the road is not every where Of
the same declevity in some parts it is so nearly
level that the cardoes not go more than at the
rate Of four or FIVE miles an hour, and as it ira
wells without horses, by its own gravity, lis inn
petus is, Of course determined by the the decli-
iy OF the plane The loaded Wagons being
HEAVIER lUdU US, tTdStllSu IdSltT, ana trdN6lleQ
the 9 miles in thirty minu'fs, exclusive of about
10 minutes taking up in greasing on the road
"Nothing is more simple and easy than the
turns out upon the road, and the manner of
crossing other roads-A locomotive Engine
find can travel on crooked roads, and will travel
as well as on a straight line, except that the
friction is greater, and it will go slower.
"The Rail Road at Mauch Chunk is upon a
- . , .t~1n Il oae al, ~ . nv. - u.,rn, all l,,
the materials are BAD in some parts. The whole
Road, nine miles long, was completed so that
wagons travelled il, il two months and three
days fromthe time it was commenced. They
are still finishing it more perfectly, and the
whole cost, including a heavy expenditure in the
construction Of an inclined plane down TO the
river, will be S25Oo 10 $4,000 per mile. l had
no idea before / saw it that a Railway was a
thing Of such easy construction. 1t is a fact
that there is not more mechanical skill requir-
ed To make one upon the plan of this, than is
necessary to construct 4 common post and rail
fence, l mean after the line is re gulated and the
route graded-and the cost will be Ear less than
we had expected.
"Ifind that the grading Of the road apd the
adaptation of the moving power to it, are in re-
atty the only subjects of d %ficulty but ! clearly
see that these two subjects will require grea,
labour and a sound Judgment, and that our
prosperous success will depend greatly upon
falling INFO no errors in regard TO these parts oil
our work.
"The loaded wagons upon arriving at The
bank Of the I.ehish river are lie, down one at q
time on an inclined plane of 700 yards. They
here pass down a loaded wagon and draw up an
rnpty one In 10 srtunns, unar rs each wagon
running 700 yards in as seconds or at the rate
of 80 miles an hour. They appear 10 SO up *
down with great ease and SAFETY, but we did mol
rid. in them, they were very dirty and seemed
y 60 rather 100 fast for comfortable uavell.
ing.
To glue Silver Plate a Lusire.-Dissolve alum
in a strong ley, skim i, carefully, Shen .mix il
with soap, and wash your utensils with il, using