Arkansas true Democrat., 1858-10-06
From the Paducah Kv.- HeraId son. Q, ,.o

sJ II. U{ contract was closed on S,turday last at the once of Col. Jas. Husbands, between q W. Jope & Co.,, of the Paducah Rolliny M;Is together with the Curlew Coal company on the one on! side, and the Mississippi, Ouachta and Red River Railroad company of Arkansas on rba other Tor the manufacturing of seven hundred tons of railroad iron, together with the neces- sary number of joints, plates, etc. This iron is to be used upon the first span of the NJ. o lS R h. h. R. across the Mississippi swamn. and Is adapted in size and form to a style of traek gotten up by Capt. Tilghman, the chief engir. ger or the company. The railroad complnv not belng able to purchase without a heavy sacnhce aud more delay, heavy Trail, the en- glheer has suggested to them form of track that Will ln every way prove adequate to their wahtS' ana, Tn fact, for safety, permanence and convenience, Secured so effactu ally. at only about one-thlrd the cost of 56 b Trail. be all that company should desire, where very hISh rates of speed are not an object, and where they can put into successful operation an im- portant span of their road, and leave no incu- bus Tn the shape of debt to hinder the success iul continuance of their road.
 1 The plan of the track is that of the old flat. bar, but So improved in the thickness of iron arrangement at the joint, and being securel by "se. cl'nching' spike, to free 1t from all the important objections urged against the old flat bar, of snake-hea Is, etc, etc.
 The bars are twenty feet long, two inches wide and about l1s thick. The inner aud up- per edge slightly rounded. The joints are se- cured by "plates'' twelve inches long, 3a inches in thickness, and the same width as the rail- The whole resting upon white oak track string" X 7 the top of which is bevelled on both sides to the width of the iron. This is supported and tied by ss-tes of white oak. every three feet, and the rail and joint plate secured to the track string by a new "self chnchlng' spike of 9-l6 slure iron. with A heavy counter sunk head. The improvement Is Tn the use of the joint plate, and a very in- genously contrived but simple form of spike. winch though nearly straight Jetore driving. on oelnS driven home, makes perfect clinch that ettectuaiv obviates the dficutie encountered from the ase of the old form of spikes.
 number of practical railroad men have ex- amlned the model, exhibited at the iron store ot Winston & Co.,, aud will agree that the whole contrlvance Is a most a lmirable one. and will prove Of lnestimable value to companies who, unable to command what is commonly called $ first class structure, can extend their lines with so available track at about one IHHu oily oI the cost. For rOa Is such as the Mississippi, Onachita ani Red river road-be. ing local road-inteodei for freghts princi. paIly; and where speed of twenty miles for passengers and ten miles for freight, per hour Is all tha: will be wanted for some years, this form ot superstructure ought to be encouraged. The quality of the iron will be such that prac. teal men assure us it will outIast the usually imported English iron two to one.
 We have spoken of the patent "selfclinch. ing spike" This is a great invention. We have examined d number of experiments and m every instance the clinch' wa, perfect. Capt. T'ghman assures us that with moderate care he would not fail once in fifty tria.s in se- curing perfect clinch. In examining the ex. periments made on the model exhibited, every spike was thoroughly cIinched, the points in many cases, taking a thorou th hold of the timber turned through from I8O to 36o de- grecs.
 We all know how immensely useful the olI fiat Iron road was in the south for mlnv vea-, and there are many miles still in operat;on.- Wlth the improvements suggested, we cannot see but that the example of this company will be followed by many others who, from the en- blrraSoed state of their finances. are unable to extend their lines of road, and are left with short and uuproductive spans.