National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1875-10-20
NEW INvKHTIoN.
A Great Labor-ssying Tool for Railroads.

A Great Labor-saving Tool for Railroads.
Yesterday afternoon an exhibition was made on
the track Of the Baltimore and Potomac railroad
OF new tool, which, It 10 safely predicted, VIII
prove of the greatest value both to railroad en-
ployers and workmen. This invention provides
jack suitable for lining the tracks OF railroads
in such q manner that there shall be no tendency
whatever to lateral displacement In the act Of
lifting. The tool consists Of pedestal having an
arm extending in length about the width Of the
track, adapted to and provided with means for
connection with one rail Of the track, the foot
being placed near the other, the front face Of the
support being curved, the curve being in the arc
OF Q circle whose radius isthe length of the arm
or about the width Of the track; and in the COM
bination with such pedestal Of Q movable hook,
adapted to take under the T OF the rail, moving
in grooves in the pedestal In the arc of the circle
corresponding with the face Of the base; and also
the combination with such movable hook, of an
adjustable clamp or holder. The way the railroad
tracks are now raised is by use Of the common
crow.bar, or wooden levers by placing from three
to five men, as necessity may require. upon the
bar. Tho track having been lifted the required
distance from one to three men are required to
sit on the lever while other workmen tramp the
dirt under the ties.
The labor saving character OF the tool is seen
in the fact that one man can raise the track TO
the required height, and when in position It is
held there by the machinery Of the tool until the
repair is made, and when lowered the track re-
turns exactly to the same position It occupied
before. By the old method the track is frequently
displaced, requiring engineering skill and con-
Stunning much time and labor to get 1t right. In
the application Of this tool especially TO curves
all railroad men will see at once its Importance.
On the occasion referred to tests were made
Of the adaptability Of the invention to the pur-
poses required and in the presence Of several dis
tinguished gentlemen and railroad officials who
expressed themselves as highly gratihed that 30
useful an invention had been made. It required
but thirty seconds to adjust the litter between the
rails and to raise one rail- carrying with 1t twenty
sleepers, the rail where the litter was applied
being raised three inches and held there without
the assistance of any one. In the incredible short
space OF quarter Of minute the rail was placed
In its original position, the litter removed from
between the rails and taken from the track so
that an approaching train could pass. The litter
was operated by Mr.. B. P. WaIling, one Of the
parties now interested in It. This tool was In
vented BY Mr.. George W. Hunter, and the patent
was Issued TO him and to William T. stone, as his
assignee, on the 18th of September last and as It
marks new era in the method Of repairing rail-
road tracks, and contributes largely to the safety
OF the travelling public, this brief description of il
Will be Interesting to all readers.