New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-11-06
STEEL RAILS.
THEIR ADVANTAGES, MANUFACTURES, AND DU
RABILITY,


you herewith the statement the subject which nave
prepared for the managers Of railroads in this couh
try take this occasion also TO correct one or TWO eo'
into which the writer Of the article has inadvertently
fallen Seeheaded rails are OF two kinds Flrst-laiiS
with solid steel tops made either from Bessemer'
Martin, or crucble steel SecOnd-Raa with tops lnaue
from Yielded bes bars Of puddIed Steel The latter
might alninate the former could only wear out III
the same solid steel rails. While have never
hesated In my preference for the solid cast steel heauS
as contradistngushed from the welded STEEL II Is put
right state that the welded puddled steel heads ooV
Europe and this country doing most exceeht ser
vice. and existing experience goes, do not seem
20 be inferior 10 the solid steel rails found that the
guarantees given in Germany were usually three years
for iron rails, seven years for puddled steel
rails, eleven years for all steel rails NO"
In regard to the Eric Railway let me say
that O most careful examination has lust been
completed Of tho steeltopped rails made at Trenton ana
whatever the promlnent official" may have said to the
impOrer solid steel rails tho facts are OF more con-
sequence than any vague At the time OF the
inspection q 1856 pudded steeltOpped rails had been
laid OF which nehundred and seven (lO' pelhg nan
Of one per cent o. found to DO defective. or 1915
ironopped rails made at Trenton OF the best materials,
and in the same manner as the Trenton rails when
on roads less heavily tired proverbia for durability
and in use about tho average time as the steel
topped rails as about 40 per cent found to be
defective But the most striking difference between the
steetoppcd and iron-topped rails, Is abundanty
proven by the experience Of Germany as well as
OF this country Ia that the failure OF the steetops
where 1t occurs. Is immediate, while tho failure
OF the irontOps Is gradual. My own observation
Of the wear of the two kinds rails the Erie Railway
confirms this statement and there cannot be doubt that
an inspection year hence will be still more favorable to
the steel tops 1t is also proper state by way OF cav
on that the topped and steesOpped rails are laid
prOmscuously the track, and unless tho trackmeh
observe marks false impression might leasy arise
in regard the durability OF the steel tops But the
most interesting regard to these rails is that not
single one whether iron steeltopped has broken In
the track yet the old rails Of which they are two
thirds composed Of very inferior quality THIS
shows be done by careful workmanship and the
use OF sufficient new material OF the best quality when
the railway Oficers have tho Intelligence to pay for
skill aud quality 1t is proper also to state that this
experiment was undertaken by the New-Jersey Steel
aud Iron Company solely for the purpose OF deciding tho
relative merits OF rails with iron tops rails with pudded
steel tops rails with cast steel tops and solid steel rals
without any expectation OF mme diae profit and may
comfort the importer" greater to be informed that
the rails have than the price paid for them,
but settled THAT old rails be covered with
solid steel heads that will stand the traffic OF the Ere
Railway that will not get loose by use, and that the
work can conducted the line OF the Erie Railway
with great economy coal cheap and access to
suitable new material convenient. Hence, l have not
hesitated TO advise the officers OF the Erie Railway 10
make immediate arrangements for rerong their rails on
the line OF road with solid castsee heads unless t
shall be found it will be- that by some OF the
process solid steel rails can be made at less cost
than steel.tOpped rails.
Careful observation OF the OF the rails the Erie
Railway as compared with other leading lines OF rail
way this country and in Europe, has satisfied me that
there is no track In existence subjected TO such
usage. and.thatnothng but steel viii stand the heavy
traffic pondUrous engines and high speed Of that great
highway. The true mission OF the Erie Railway Is not
yet fully understood by the public. IL is essentially
coal road and convey millions Of tuns not only East
but West and its present tunnaRe Is but slight compared
with the future demands for transit over It's tracks
Hence It is folly to lay anything but tho most durable
material on the road.
In conclusion let mo say that the conditions Of the
problem for maknRcheAp STEEL suitable for rails, are
essentially different IN America FROM what they arc In
Europe. The greater part Of contain phos-
phorus which renders them unsuitable for tho Bcssemer
process. But by the Semens Martin process pig iron
containing phosphorus be utilized and the resulting
steel Yields admirably TO ron which ia not the case with
other kinds OF steel containing the samepercentoge
Of carbon. Hence 1t is probable that seetopped rails
can he made cheapy than rails ali STEEL except in
those localities where the material suitable for the
Bessemer process But It happens that most OF the
phosphorus 10 echanicaly combined with the oxide OF
irou in our rich and abundant magnetic ores. This
popularity has Just begun TO attract thoreB
therefore reason hope that largo amounts Of MATERIAL
now for the Bossemer process will be rendered
available for it by improved methods Of treatment
gain these rich admirably adapted TO the
called direct processes by which the oxygen expelled
and the resulting sponge Of metallic iron left In cond
ton be converted into steel by the or
the crucibe process But these direct processes, al
though apparently simple and inexpensive, have hth
erto baed the science OF chemists and the practical skill
OF metallurgists There time when success
was necessary. when much talent science, capt.
ta energy been devoted 10 the souton OF this
Interesting prObem and l. for look Tor successful
result at an early day With tho production Of cheap
metallic sponge viii come cheaper steel, cheaper rails,
aud cheap bit safe transportation Bessemer aud Sic
both engaged IN trying 10 solve this great
problem each In his Ownlway and each devotnR TO the
task not merely his great experience and high scientific
skill but the weearned fruits OF past inventions, by
which the cost Of steel has been reduced as 20 be
successful rival 10 iron for tho most ordinary
While cannot but wish them the they deserve,
confess that have the largest supply of table
ores should prefer that the glory OF this great and final
achievement should be won by some one OF in
ventOrs who would thus rank himself with Franklin and
Morse, and Howe and Goodyear the American benefac
tors OF all mankind. ADRIAN ;. HEWITT
Nep.York, Oct. 80, 1869.
OYTTcR OF COOPER HEWIrT Co No II BrRttya STRIP !