Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1869-01-30
A wsssss nal,,saa.

mel is slsaFs engagrd Ia snine en-
terprise for the public gooi. The
praelieabiliiy and advantage ofthls
means Of travel and transportation
IL soon Ia be- tested We have M
doubt II will prove II inralrulahle
benefit 10 Texas;
Rdi,s. ilsa.isn fsNrgraIL.
AZ your reqnesl, | have great
pleasure in furnishing a synopsis oi
my system Of Wooden Railroads, as
Published in the Telegraph just one
year ago.
The demands Of the State OffeN
as far a better, cheaper and more
rapid transportation than We may
have in the OK or mule team, ap-
psared % me 30 imperative as I"
sall fr the best eil"rls IT engineer
Ing science, aud practical mtn Ia
meet il Amer much reflection and
various aud important notifications
of our old w0nden road that In
many places, an short lines, and for
local purposes, has continued TO be
used To The present time, ] submit
ted my system TO Col, Ashbel Sm,'l'
f.r his examination aud remarks
] was graiifed with his very warm
appreciation oi my essay and sys'
TEN aud ! have, Stree its publica
ton in tho Telegraph, been encour'
aged by tho best heads and most
practical men ia Texas aud else
where To push its adoption.
The populations Of Texas are
grouped IN cluster, or scattered
along the streams in snch n manner,
and with such limited means, rs Ia
render tho construction ofiron roads
over their great distances, mn i'm
possibility for years 10 como. On
~ few main lines are at all prac'
ticnblc now, and these have to creep
forward at very laggard PAGES.
The system herein presented,
does, wc respectfully submit, solve
tho prob en-, and places railroad
transportation within the present
reach of very large portion Of
these widely distributed popula'
tons.
Iron railroads cost, in the South
ern States. (including rolling stock. }
about s3l 200 per mile, The wood
on road, herein presented, will cost
n sum varying between 5000 and
$4,000 per milc-an average ofone
eighth Of The cost Of iron roads.
RoAD-BED AND TRACK.
Guagc. / feet. Rails, 5XS, lumber
or logs, hcwcd or sawed on two
faccs, laid in the ground to within
two inches of the surface; spliccd
by carpenters, half lap Of one foot
or more, and secured by Il counter
sunkbolt, through splice.
Ties. used only on soft ground,
requiring them, generally, buried
as mnd stills. Inside Of track eleva'
ted little for drainage, and tow
path eighteen inches wide, for
horses.
Timbcr-Postoali, liveoak. heart:
Pine, or any hard and durable tim
Der. Bridges, trestles, and culvcrts.
all light a,d cheap, for moderate
loads.
ROLLING STOCK.
Such light cars, on cast iron wheels
and good wrought axles, as shall
weigh not to exceed $50 lbs. for plat,
form, or 1900 lbs. for box or rack
cars; 1900 lbs. for passenger cars.
Wheels with 5 inches tread on rails
and fanges u inches, to be placed
outside of rails.
Passenger cars INT feet, for %
passengers. Platform cars 6xl2
feet, for 1 bales of cotton 2 tiers
deep. Springs, buffers and brakes
like other cars, but lighter.
GRADES.
All grades to BIO overcome by di-
viding trains or doubling team. No
cuts or fills except at gullies or IA
vines. Hillsidcs to be assembled by
reflections, 30 as not to rise ore
than / foot in 10 feet.
CROSSING RIVERS.
Banks to DO graded down l foot
in 5 feet. Tracks to be laid on fer
ny bonts, and portable tracks or
launches to connect the shore trat k
with boat track.
Ferries worked by windlass on
the boat, and well secured to cables
stretched across.
pROpELLING POWER.
Mules or horses; a load being two
froigh.ed cars, on level and all
grades up to 100 feet in mile, the
load ofa cur to average 1000 pounds
and not to exceed 5000 pounds at
any time.
Travelling rates, miles per hour
for froIghts and 6 or for passen-
ger or express purposes.
These itoms may and will be
modified according to exigency and
experience.
X 4 x x X
I would state that the interest in
the subject has been gradually
growing, and that one company has
organized and advertised for propo-
sails for contract, with an estimate
of some $4,000 (spccic) per mile, in
Gliding the rolling stock, depots,
and station houses; that two others,
Of 30 and so miles, are preparing
to construct under this system.
Having secured the invention and
improvements, i have made. (and
which are nearly Indispensable to
the SYSTEM by application for
patent, Mr.. S. e. Loeb, of Galveston,
and myself are prepared to take
cotracts aud negotiate for rights.
Afier entering upon work in any
ordinary case, we would expect TO
progress at the rate of ten miles
per month-so simple, so easy, is
- tl.o g y f.t.f.tp