Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1874-04-18
OLYMPIA, SATURDAY MORNING. APRIL IS. ISL
A SUGGESTION TO THE OLYMPIA
RAILROAD UNION.

road is now progressing, anything bear
ing upon the subject of railroad con-
struction is Of interest, especial. such
suggestions as relate to lesscninS of the
cost. The amount of stock subscribed,
with the contributions Of Labor and
supplies yet to be made, is believed to
be ample for preparing the road-hcd,
the most serious part of the undertak
ing. This completed, tho people viii
be literally in a condition to " cut their
cloth according TO the measure, and
construct such road us their means
will allow. 1t is generally conceded
that the community is too poor to in
dulge lavish expenditure i'll building
frst-class road in all respects, nor is
it believed that the trade will for many
years justify it. If some plan can be
devised whereby, with a small cost we
can secure oil the benefits Of railroad
connection, the question is at once pre-
scented in light that will secure united
aid, and all fear Of ruinous taxation"
is at once removed. With such state
of public sentiment, with no necessity
of calling for single dollar of county
bonds, the objections that have retarded
progress SO far vanish in their air, and
leave the prospect clear for future oper-
atoms.
An article in the Manufacturer and
Builder of January, 1870, contains some
suggestions relative to the comparative
cost Of constructing and maintaining
wooden and iron railways, that are ex-
ceedingly pertinent to the present stu
alton of our enterprise. The high
standing Of that journal as practical
exponent of scientific subjects, entities
its opinions to great weight 1t asserts
that, at first thought, touching the sub
stitution of wood for iron in construct
ing railroads, an intelligent engineer,
who is familiar with the strength of
materials, and with the heavy wear on
the lines of great thoroushfares, would
at once decide that wooden rails would
not render satisfactory service, except
for brief period; while wood for the
rails may be employed for the track on
branch roads with satisfactory results,
where the freight cars are not liable to
be heavily loaded. 1t maintains that,
according to the opinion Of several en-
gineers Of extensive experience in build
ing railroads, wooden road for COM
paratively lightwork, may be constructed
and kept in repair, for term of years,
at much smaller expense, than when
iron rails are used. In Canada these
roads are constructed to much greater
extent than in this country, and the
results are the basis from which it draws
its conclusions.
One of the plans proposed for adop-
ton is, to make the rails of some hard
timber, say IA feet in length, sawed
true 4 by inches square, and having q
short end-tenon fitting corresponding
end.mortise, resting on broad tie at
the joints. These rails are laid upon
ties about two feet apart from center to
center, and notches or gains are made
in them to receive the rails, which are
firmly held in place by wedges driven
by the side of the rail in each notch.
No spikes or bolts are used, and expe-
rience has proven that these wedges are
all that is required to make the founda-
ton steady and firm as the ordinary
iron rails held in place by other appli-
snces. The notching of the ties and
the mortising of the rails should, OF
course be done by machinery, to reduce
the cost of construction to the lowest
figures.
An improvement on this style Of rail
is suggested, which consists in placing
hard wood blocks on q stick of timber
so that the end of the grain would come
in contact with the wheels of the cars.
These blocks are held in position by
longitudinal stringers, 30 constructed
- to form continuous foundation for
the blocks. Some engineers of extern
awe experience, itaffirms, maintain that
hard timber placed endwise of the
grain will make road superior to iron,
and even steel. although the timber
will not endure SO great length OF
time as the metallic rail. This system
OF railways has been tried in the PROV
ince OF Quebec, with satisfactory re-
suits. The coast of block rail was 81
per yard, or 1,700 per mile. In the
use of wooden rails, there was decided