New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-12-05
RAILROAD INTERESTS.
VIRUS oE AN ENGLISH ENGIN. zR.


SIR EDWARD REED ANSWERS CAPTAIN PHELPS
OBJECTIONS TO THE PRoJECT-THE DANGERS TO
RI GUARDED AGAINST IN TRANSPORTING SHIPS
BY LAND.
Sir Edward Reed for many years Chlet Con
strnctor OF the British Navy. has written letter to Adj
mral Ammen giving his views in regard to the proposed
ship railway the Isthmus OF Tehuantepec' lie
speaks very strongly in favor of the scheme. The fo
lowing are extracts from the letter:
"The suggestion transport ships loaded with car
goes from one ocean to another over railway more
than one hundred miles long Is which certain at
first to excite many doubts and suspicious both among
those who do and among those who do not understand
the construction OF sdb OF ship railways. But first
impressions upon matter of this kind Of little yalue
investigate the matter closely and IN the light OF
existing knowledge and experience. In the first place
feel obliged express surprise at the contention Of Cap
tain Phelps that the ship railway the Isthmus Of
Tehuantepec must be adapted for transporting the
heaviest vessels used anywhere On the contrary the
primary requirement clearly thP the railway should he
fitted carrying the vessels engaged in ordinary com
merco and more particularly such as employed in
distributing the world tine and other products of
California and the neighborng States. To Americans
the quick and economical interchange Of products be-
tween the Eastern and Western States by OF their
own mercantile vessels, would think be the first OBJ
ject attain for this purpose it would certainly not he
necessary to provide for the transport OF such ships
tue by lsont otINlh, anu OlucT NtNH'AS
now building in this country England expressly and
solely for improving the intercourse between America
and Europe. I should anticipate that n ship railway
ncross the Isthmus Of Tehuantepec would be great
stimulan to the employment OF Amerieanbuilt vessels
Of wood well of iron and it obvious that there
would be demand for vessels o immense size. The
trade OF the world and assuredy American home trade,
would he amply provided for II provision is made for
Transporting ships OF a maximum displacement Of 5000
tons"
sir Edward Reed 6sagrecs with Captain Phelps re
gardng the weight of the and cradle necessary
carry the ships and says: 81 am Of the opinion that
the weight OF and cradle, of ample strength to
ship Of 1000 tons weight. need not exceed 500
tons; carry snip of 5000 TONS it need not exceed
$50 tons" In regard to raising aud transporting the
ships sir Edward says: In lar the lifting Of the
ships bodily the concerned this process
IS in repeated operation at the Victoria docks. the
Thames. al Malta. at Bombay az seba,topp, aud sew
other places while the process Of hanlng ships up
OF the upon wheeled carriage on inclined
plane laiI with rails Il very common one No
ginccr can uuu that either process perfectly apphca
b, with Increased power 10 ships OF larger size al
though should myself prefer the process @. direct hit
ing for several reasons, the chief of which Is that 10
furnishes tine rcaacst and best opportunities for sup
water"
su Edward thinks that laden ships can be- raised and
transported "tuodt injury, aut -Ay- that tIc thing
chiefly to he guarded against b. not general structural
strains, strlu- resulting from unequal die
ti1utou uf weights and more especially az cargo Il
affirm he says, that the gen rl structural strains
watch are liable To Dee brought upon snip 10y hitting aud
transporting her Prc,umuE, al c"ur-r that reasonable
skill ana care are applied {" these Processes, arr INFERIOR
in1'h lhrlI"T 10 lHosr strains o. "mch every o'riu
going sup is continually liable at Indeed
TIE only structural strains which would have
!" ne very el'.."u5 E'aiut" against In ti'l "h'h
exhibit i-eu ia and ia connection with the beam
Knees 81 W"'l, 'nli- "hl oven ihs' "ih proper Dute
support would u' l'-- IMAM the IKE strain Whlch occurs
-ra" OF Ocal strains hc says; - appreheud that
engineer ~ the -l aud Cmururo Of Captain Lads, with
all the experience OF ship builders ~ his command
would not undertake the work of lifting and transport
Iu- loaded -Ap without nd@Ing iu provision, a. NAV
h' I''"il "'u'' 'ol "PFl'H- ""p' '"''" SuPP"I. ''
every -np- ul-r al every part lhc hs drauc lit az
Malta has raised numerous ships with cargors on board
without tuc slightest INJURY of any description.
" In the next place o. seem. to me quite certain that
port snip when htteI high aud dry would also Dc
such woIlI cne,tualy keep her upright Va storms ANA
S,5 T. ~ t most IA t1,'' ,I, m laid 49, i1 r,gt it-
double tupr Of rails nearly possible IA the
plane and also iiIt tuc carriages would Dee made
with tIu1l clsr an their paris with THESE prcrau
lions t,Aru. nut considering that comparatively loss
speed D. a ihAl Is Ipui'd hm no zoos ." see ia WHAT
way dan 20 the chip would arise"
s.r LdSard completely dNpos'- Of the statement of
Captain Phelps tuat w,.-coustrurtcd shin undcrgocs
ciiin the case az her Majesty yacht the Victoria and
Albert which, 70 has been demonstrated, D. Liable 40
ton of no less than I5IOO foot tons. THIS nearly
hall the greatest tfthnE strain thai SHE 'old possibly
Lus and 90 tNc stern. 1T Is stated tuut ~
low rate Of speed ho adds. good engines would
drA" 500 iou.. lt'y can III i"'t ara" more OUT 'l
u- accept these figures sixty engines would, therefore,
draw 5000 tuur. at seven Times tue maximum weight
which, a. estimate. 10 D. al present requisite Ia provide
for Instead of sixty locomotive. Therefore" nine or ten
OF the ordinary would Be sufficient for tue large
uriy ul sAi- To be transported extra power being,
Of cJuTsc, applied over short distances where
the gradients exceptional Again, Captain
Phelps lsr- i've tons pressure per wurCl
"A. the limit which may be- properly applied;
but t.I. BIZ only about hair the pressure wAICI
H. sometimes allowed Tor the Natri, ui last running
D.umut Sc en- -Iut Instead %! $500 wheels being
..ir,I 4- Doe ,-tlmHtrs, / should tIuk tult Tie sur
CItnout the 900 wodd be- ample Tor the largest car
race go ID, employ eel Iu the rAli" a!.
thor. fI Al FL a I Do
narrative economy porting sapa cargo by canal
a.. railway / 900 Ilrl.Ita tO believe tuat the railway
y,nuId prove tue more economical uf tur Two" sir
Ilr estimates tuat Ga, cost ut transporting -hlpo
81 90 per ton.