The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-05-22
RAILROAD PURCHASING AGENTS.

THE MEN WHO BUY THE RAILROAD SUPPLIES
IN COUNCIL.
rho ffth annual Convention OF the Railroad Pur-
chasing Agents of the United States ana Canada was
held yesterday morning in paror Of tho St Nicholas
Hotel. Mr.. A. @. Armstrong, OF the Lake Shore and
Michigan Railroad. president OF tho
ton, called tho meeting 10 order Among thoso pres
ent were A. G. Thompson, secretary and treasurer OF
the association G. c. Breed, OF the Louisville and
Nashville Railroad; W. s. Cuddy st, Louis and Iron
Mountain Road; j. II. Holway, Atlantic and Great
Western; II. H. Elliot, Eastern Railroad OF Boston
W. G. Anderson, Lehgh vaoy Road; Il. p.
Miller. Indianapolis, Bloomington and Western;
r. II. Iddings. North Pennsylvania road; A. II. Camp
bell Missouri River Fort Scott and Gut Railroad; C.
NJ Hlggihson. Chicago, Burlington ana Quincy; T. q.
Purdy, New York and Oswego Midland road; A. w.
Sumner, Northern Central road; o. N. Lull, Cum
berAnd Valley; George Tozzar, indianapolis, Cincn
natl and Lafayette; A. q. Warren, OLD Colony STEAM
ship Company, and II. G. Moore, New York and Har-
lem Railroad. To understand the objects of this Con-
vention 1t may be as we'll 10 explain that railroad
purchasing agent ono who purchases all the supplies
SO that COMMERCIALLY no is person OF no
small importance. Five years ago these officials
cluded II would be good idea 70 meet once year
aud relate their experiences purchasers OF railroad
supplies for the benefit OF the roads they represe nted
one agent would be sure to know moro than an other
about tho use OF tins thing or thatof lubricang oil,
of cotton waste axes and the Thousand things needed
TO furnish and conduct a railroad One agent might
DO buying one article AZ extravaea
rate and using It without economy, while another
agent might have discovered how II could be used
as 10 much expense. and thus interchange Of
views ana experiences must necessarily rcdound 10
their mutual information aud advantage.
AN oLEAGiSoUs DISCUSSION
Tho chief topic OF discussion yesterday was lubri.
eating OIL subject in which tho delegates take
special interest One man IN Chicago VINO oils about
month ana another man ut Council Bluffs who oils
fifteen coaches day uses $50 which goes TO snow
Is estimated that when train oiled with bad judg
mont goes round q curve II squeezes out twenty
I'VE per cent OF oil before It has gone hvo mhes.
There Is great waste In that way which.
DO against oil and in favor Of grease.
On Southern railroads summer grease 10 very gener
ally used ana Is thought DO better lubricant than
OIL TO oil eight wheel car II takes about quart
aud half to saturato the waste ana give 1t a good
start Various tests used find authorizations In
oil. Cottonseed oil can be detected in lard oil by
using Dtratc Of mercury. II Is dhlcut TO detect tho
odorless parafne oil when mixed with lard oil Tho
trouble with taow oil Is IN ncutralizng the acid IL
contains The stsaric acid in tallow makes lime balls
In the ylinder In the matter OF cotton wasc opin-
differ the superiority OF the white over tho
coiored. Some hold that the latter is charged
the oil SO readily Us the pure white. In the use OF
waste there 10 difference part OF IT. being Tor lubri.
eating and part Tor train service tor cleaning lamps
and brasses. Though wool waste IS much used there
prejudice against II In favor OF cotton IL is too
elastic for packing purposes Da. y has one advantage
that stands up to tho Journal better Wool waste 10
excellent tor packing tender boxes.
OTHER TOPICS FOR DEBATE
Among other subjects that will engage the attention
OF tho Convention during It's sessions will DO draw
bar springs and correct method OF trcating them;
tho best test Tor car axcs; also lead lined prasscs
also the disposal OF certain Kinds oil old materials OF
recuttIng flies; the system OF keeping mileage; the
quaiIes OF rarosd iron ami other cognate subjects.
morning. Moro delegates arrived yesterday evening
ana still more are expected to-day. The agents say
thoy can learn more from each Other in convention
this X ina IN low days than by trusting to their
individual experience lor a year.