The Evening critic., 1882-04-03
EADS' RAILWAY SCHEME,
what N Prominent Naval Constru
for Snys of AZ


Naval Constructor samuel II. Pook, OF tho
Washington Nayy-Yard, Is not one OF those
persons who believe that this Eads ship-rail-
way scheme IL practicable one. In fact, Mr..
Pook, who has given tho question consider
able study, thinks that even should such a
railway as Mr.. Eads contcmplates building DO
carried into effect, that It would simply be n
thing to look at and not OF any benefit to the
country. representative of THE CRITIC
met Mr.. Pook this morning and the following
colloluy is the result.
"what do you think OF the Eads ship.raIl.
way canal schemeg asked tho reporter.
"Nery wonderful idcn, indeed" said Mr.
pook.
SIS It in your opinion practlcable9" inquired
THE CRITIC.
"My Judgment is that such a railway could
be constructed, but 1t is not desirable. These
ships, as they are ut the present time built,
are intended to carry their cargocs whilo they
ncat, but they are not constructed so as to be
taken out OF the water and carried overland.
Therefore the present commerce OF the world
is not adapted TO this means OF locomotlon."
"Could the average ship, as at present con
structed, stand the strain to which 1t would
necessarily be subjected in the transit across
the isthmus on the ratlwayY'
"ln my opinion" said Mr.. Pook, "t could
not"
"But,"" put in the reporter, 'NIr. Eads claims
that he has experimental, to certain extent,
in that direction, and has met with success"
"Nes, Mr.. Eads has run "A ship upon land
several hundred feet, but that is far differ
carrying ships on cars up and down grades at
the rate of Ave and ten miles an hour"
"How are marine railways at present con-
structed?" asked the scientific CRITIC man.
MARINE railways as at present constructed
for taking ships out of water are only used for
vessels having small tonnage. The larger
class of vessels are used for the transporta-
tion Of merchandise When 1t becomes neces-
sary to take them out Of water for any purpose
they are placed in dry docks. 1t would be
considered too expensive and laborious to do
such work on marine railway when II Is pos
sible to do 1t on dry dock"
'You regard Mr.. Eads an eminent engi-
Eeer, do you notr' asked the reporter.
"Oh, yes" said Constructor Pook; 81 think
well OF Mr.. Eads as a great civil engineer. In
fact, he Is one OF the very best In the world, as
his works well prove. But cannot conceive
how 1t would rebound to his credit even II
this proposed ship-railway Is built. The
future generation would only look with won
der upon what had been attempted by man,
and, like the Brooklyn bridge, 1t would be one
of the loftiest attempts of human ambition,
pose for which 1t was intended. Mr.. Eads has
greater work for his talents, and one that
will add amazingly to his already wide repu-
tation-that is, to plan and carry out such
levees, works and jetties as are necessary on
our great Western rivers, where humanity is
now loudly calling for the best engineering
skill. The ship-railway scheme might In
crease the riches OF n corporation or corpora
tions, but the scheme for the improvement of
the Mississippi and Its tributaries, to prevent
annual overfiows, II successfully carried out,
would immortalize Mr.. Eads or any other civil
engineer"