New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-04-18
MIR. VANDERBILTS STEEL RAILS.
rpn,1 TIE pprsInENT OF TIE AMIR.

ENGLISH LoANsi-So COMPLAINTS AGAINST
AMERICAN RAILS BY OTHER RAILROAD MEN
ABOUT The TwELvE-YRAR GUARANTY-VANDER,
BILT AND JOHN A. GRiswoLD.
To the Edttor Of The Trfbune.
SIR: Having received a number of letters. adj
dressed to as president OF the American Iron ana
Steel Association, asking me to give my views III
regard to the correctness OF the statement maze
by q prominent official" of the New-lork Cen
tral Railroad to a TRIBUNE reporter, az printed
in your paper of the 18th inst, | take this
method of making a general reply. The purchase
of this lot of 2 900 tons of English steel rails at
cost of at least 81 per ton over the price at which
American rails could have been placed on the line
of the New-York Central Railroad would have sur
prised me fit had been made by almost any one
else than Mr. Vanderbilt; but, knowing the anti
American sentment-if may not say prejudice
which has prevailed in the government OF that road
for many years | was not unprepared Tor the Jolly 1t
has committed
IL is barely possible that Mr.. Vanderbilt may
think he is justified in paying the difference named
for English rails, but such suppositon IS not cred
liable to his intelligence and the statement of the
prominent official" that it is well known among
railroad men that the utmost limit OF ar tOr
American steel rails, rs now manufactured IS hVe
wears when they are subjected to the strain
over the New-Yorll Central Railroad is such bold
assertion of what is absolutely ana entirely untrue
that must suppose it to be the result of blind ig-
uorance. That some American steel rails may not
under certain conditions last five years or even
one wear nav be true. and it is equally true
of foreign rails The usual guarantee of Amerl-
can rails is five years wear. with an agree
ment to replace all such as give out from falr
usage within that time; and for this guarantee no
extra charge is made. Ii is not fair for Mr.. VAN
derbt to suppose that all American manufacturers
of steel rails are so stupid as to make an inferior
article when, with the best Of materials to start
with. they can with the practice of intelligence
and skill make a good rail with just as little cost
as they can an inferior rail.
AMERICAN RAILS USED FOR A DECADE.
Ii takes some little time and experience TO come
TO the best results in all trades but there is perhaps
no trade or process practsed in which the induce
mcut to achieve the best possible results is so strong
as in the making of steel rails and the American
makers have not been slow to learn that fact and to
profit by If. AZ have said above it costs no more
with good material to make n good rail than poor
one and the result is that very few poor steel rails
are being made by any manufacturer anywhere.
The hardness or temper of the rails Is regulated
by the amount OF carbon the steel contains ana
this il usually controlled by the roads that use
them. some railroad managers requiring their rals
much softer than others, preferring toughness and
immunity against possible accidents from break
ing To the extreme hardness which would insure
greater endurance. American rails nave bceh tScd
for more than ten years on many or our IeadlnS
roads and for the last 5 or eight years more than
a million and half tons have been put down. and
am ignorant of the first instance OF any slch COM
plant as would justify the assertion so boldly mace
by this prominent official" indeed know exactly
to the contrary.
I'm every large lot of rails there is a liability to
he a few imperfect ones from flaws in the ingot
FINN mo, al tiaf pstg ID p-
tectcd by the closest and most careful inspection,
but these Hnperiectlons usually disclose them
selves during the first few months service. his
! is equally true Of English as well as American
rails The number of rails so failing within five
years IA so inconsderable that the guarantee has
never been considered any great hardship TO manu-
faC,urcrs. II the utmost life or the American
rails is limited TO five years, as asserted by
"prOmincnt Official" the NewGOrlS Central might
have its road kept constantly supplied with new
rails under the usual American guarantee. with
out any expense 20 the company beyond the hfst
The twelve years guarantee is what Mr.. Wander
hilt claims as his justification Tor sendlng ms money
abroad rather than giving II TO THE American peo-
pie who alone furnish the traffic upon which his
road prospers. If ne lays these English rails upon
easy grades and straight lines, and keeps MS
rOad-bed IN good order, the guarantee VIII
cost the makers nothing beyond the few rails that
may fail from Undecided UechanIcal defects,
and such would be the result with American rails
but II ho lays them on steep grades and short
curves, in ms yards where shifting ~ beng done
with heavy locomotives constantly stopping and
starting, he VIII have to call on his English trends
10 replace his rails, many OF them inside or hYe
wears, and large majority II not all OF them,
within the twelve years.
THE CENIRALs HOSTILITY TO AMERICAN STEEL
INTERESTS.
As far as l have heard, the New-York Central
Railroad has never been very friendly to American
railmakers, certainly not since it came under the
Vanderbilt rule. | am not aware that Mr. Van
derbilt has ever asked for twelve years guar
Ill
them, certainly not from very many of them, at
what price or on what terms they would supply
his wants. His purchase of these foteign rails
would seem to have some other motive than the one
gwen. The " economy" plan is too thin for cred
dence.
way TO call the attention of the country to the
nocy of protection which is at this time securing
To the American mills orders from all roads but
This one and that he intends TO make an assault
upon tho American system which secures the
American markets to American producers, and,
under domestic competition, brings prices lower
than his English friends would sell MIN, provided
that competition was removed. Tie should rcmem-
her his 10 900 ton contract with English makers at
81 II gold, which was not completed untii American
competition had reduced the cost here to about one
/ remember once meeting my esteemed friend,
the late Hon. John A. Grswold, IN New-fork,
shortly after he had established the Bessemer
Works at Troy, and was not "A httle surprised to
find him IN an unusually excited frame of mind
for of his ordinarily calm ana quiet and
always anIable and gentlemanly disposition, and,
upon inqulring what had happened 30 so disturb
him. he replied that in anticipation of finding en-
cOuTagcment and perhaps patronage from the New
York Central Railroad in his new enterprise, his
works being located on its line, and giving il
large amount of traffic. lie had that morning
called on Commodore Vanderbilt ut his Office,
having this end in view. After having waited in
the ante-room somewhat beyond the usual time
he was at length surprised by the CommodoIe's
making his appearance IN tile doorway leading To
his private room, holding in ms hand the card
which Mr. Griswold had sent IN, and demanding
in loud voice, that others sitting there wait
ing like himself, couldn't help but hear, WHO IN
| hi is this man. John A. Grlswod, VINO wants To
see mc; Mr.. Griswold rose, and, merely re-