Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1858-10-08
pADUcAH ROLLING MILLS.

A contract was closed on Saturday Sep
TENDER 18th, at the Office of Col. Jas. Hus-
bands, between G. w Jope & Co., of the
Paducah Rolling Mills, together with the
Curlew Coal Company on the one side,
and the Missippi, Ouchita and Red River
Railroad Company of Arkansas on the
other, for the manufacturing Of seven
hundred tons of railroad iron, together
with the necessary number of joints, plates
&c. This iron is be used upon the first
span of the M. o. & r. r. r. Road across
the Mississippi swamp, and is adapted in
size and form to a style of track gotten up
by Capt. Tilghman, the Chief Engineer of
the Company. The Railroad Company
not being able to purchase, without heavy
sacrifice and more delay, heavy 7 rail,
the Engineer has suggested to them form
Of track that will in every way prove ade-
quate to their wants; and, in fact for
safety, permanence and convenience, (se-
cured so effectually, at only about one
third the cost Of Sc ID. T rail, } be all
that a company should desire, where very
high rates of speed are not an object, and
where they can put into successful opera
ton an important span of their road, and
leave no incubus in the shape of debt to
hinder the successful continuance of their
road.
The plan of the tract is that of the old
fat bar, but so improved in the thickness
of iron, arrangements at the joint, and be.
ing secured by "self-c1inching" spike as
to free it from all the important objection:
urged against the old Hat bar, of snake
heads, &C., &c.
The bars are twenty feet long, two inch.
es wide and about Il thick The inner
and upper edge slightly rounded. The
joints are secured by "plates, twelve inch
es in thickness, and the same width as thu
rail- The whole resting upon white oal
''tract-string," 6 X 7, the top of which il
bevelled on both sides to the width of the
iron. This is supported and tied by cross
ties of white oak, every three feet, and
the rail and join plate secured to the tract
string by new ''self- clinching" spike o
9-16 square iron, with heavy counter
ink head. The improvement is in the use
of the joint plate, and a very ingeniousl,
contrived but simple form of spike, which
though nearly straight before driving, OF
D6lUS uTlN6U uOIlt, udh6S u pcTltCb ClluCt
that effectually obviates the difficulties en-
countered from the use of the old form o
spikes.
A number of practical railroad mel
have examined the model, exhibited at tn,
Iron store of Winston & Co., and vii
agree that the whole continuance is a mos
admirable one, and will prove of inesti
mable value to Companies who, unable t.
command what is commonly called "frs
class" structure, can extend their lines witt
so available tract at about one third onl
Of the cost For roads such as the Miss
issippi, Ouachita and Bed River Road
being local road-intended for freight
principally; and where speed of twent,
miles for passengers, and ten miles 70
freight, per hour, is all that will be wante
: for some years, this form of superstruc
ture ought to be- encouraged The quail
ty of the iron will be such that practca
men assure us it will outlast the usual
imported English iron two to one.
We have spoken of the patent "self
clinching spike" This is great inven
ton We have examined a number of ex
periments and in every instance the 'clincl
3 was perfect Capt Tilghman assures u
that with moderate care he would not fai
t once in fifty trials in securing perfec
f clinch. In examining the experiment
r made on the model exhibited, every spik
was thoroughly clinched, the points, i
many cases, taking thorough hold of tn
? timber turned through from $50 to SO
+ degrees.
f We all know how immensely useful tn
old fat iron road was in the South 70
many years, and there are many miles sti
7 in operation. With the improvement
suggested, we cannot see but that the e1
ample of this Company will be followe
t by many Others who, from the embarrasse
: state of their finances, are unable to exten
their lines of road, and are left with shOl
and unproductive spans.
Gen Winfield Scott, who is now stoI
rinn az Vast Point mot with n Snvnra M