New-York tribune., 1879-04-11
STEEL RAILS FROM ENGLAND
WHY Mr.. VANDERBILT BUYS THEM


AMERICAN STEEL RAILS SAID TO WEAR OUT MUcp
SOONER THAN ENGLrsH-AMERICAN MANUFAc-
TURERs UNWILLING TO GIVE THE DESIRED
GUARANTEE.
William II. Vanderbilt was unwilling to say any
thing further yesterday about his purchase Of Eng
hsh steel rails, and declined to comment on Alfred
Earnshaw's letter on the subject published in The
TRIBUNE Wednesday But prominent official OF
the Ncw-York Central Railroad was found to DO
less retcent, though he preferred that his name
should not be published. He said:
THE English steel rails were not ordered by Mr..
Vanderbilt until after careful examination Of tho
cost. Chemical and other tests of both American
and English steel rails were also made. Tho
amount Of English rails ordered was 10000 tons,
at n cost loaded, of e5 ton. TO this must be added
duty of $25, which will make the rails cost de-
livcred here about $53 ton. The American
Bessemer steel rails cost from $40 to 17 ton, and
on large orders they can probably be purchased as
low as S43 ton, the price varying according
TO the place of delivery The manufacturers
Of the English steel give a guarantee Of
twelve years wear, all rails not coming
up to the standard TO be replaced FREQ
Of cost. Eycry American manufacturer applied TO
declined 10 furnish such guarantee 1--WE years being
tue longest time for which a .urantee was offered.
1t is well known to railroad men that the utmost
limit of wear for American steel rails, as now
ufaotuTod, is five years, where they subjected
TO the strain of heavy traffic such as continually
passes over the New-YOrk Central Road. Some OK
the English rails now laid on this road have been
in constant use for many years without showing
the least evidence Of wear, while American steel.
laid at the same time. has worn out. and must be
replaced. The purchase of this large quantity OF
English rails was made by Mr.. Vanderbilt
purely for reasons of economy, aud after
considering carefully al the elements involved in
the matter The purchase of rails that cost % per
cent more than American rails, and give nearly 100
per cent more wear, cannot, under any circum-
stances, prove reckless expen nlture, nor can the
stockholders be injured IN the least by such pur-
chase.
at is a mistake to suppose that in making this
purchase Mr.. Vanderbilt desired TO express q lack
of confidence in Americanmade rails, o. that he in
tends to only English steel. An order mas been
given to a Pennsylvania company for 1000 tons of
American rails and the intention is to distribute
both kinds along the New-York Central and
its feeders. whore each viii be the most
serviceable. road with the enormous traffic of the
New-York Central cannot afford 10 be de-
prlved Of its tracks every few years for
the laying of new rails, and where the
heaviest wear is we shall lay the English
steel. None of Il will be laid In Canada, the only
rortion of the Canada Southern Road requiring new
tracks being in the United States. The idea that
Mr. Vanderbilt by this purchase wanted to mako
capital TO use at Washington IN fighting the present
tariff Is absurd. The tariff troubles him less than
almost any other subject. and such an idea never
entered his mind"
The officer added, in closing the conversation,
that Mr. Vanderbilt, as president of the New-Yorlc
Central Road, had perfect right to make his pur-
I. Il. \
sulting those who had no interest in the welfare of
the company