The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-06-01

erything about an engine has been inn
proved in every way. The wheels are
made larger, too, and that enables the en-
CINE to make better time. A wheel two
feet in diameter makes $40 revolutions per
mile, while one Of five feet in diameter
only makes 1856 revolutions, and so in pro-
portion. But the improvement in road
bed, passenger coaches and everything else
helps the engine to move with greater
speed"
II understand the Midland road is one
OF the best constructed of modern roads. "
80 1t is. The Midland was fortunate in
securing easy grades and in other respects.
There are fine deposits OF gravel on the line
OF the road, which enables it TO keep the
track smooth and in good repair. Out OF
the seventy-One miles of the Midland road
way, sixty-eight are absolutely straight, and
That Is big advantage in the matter OF
time. The Westinghouse automatic air
brake is great invention, and has helped
considerably in the matter Of speed, by en-
ablng brakemcn to stop trains without
losing time"
On this same subject Mr.. f. c. Clark
writes to Scribner:
'Thc key TO the evolution Of the Amer
lean railway is the contempt for authority
displayed by our engineer, and the UNI
trammeled way in which they invented
and applied whatever they thought would
answer the best purpose regardless of pre-
cedent. When we began to build ourrail-
ways in 1881, we followed English patterns
for a short time. Our engineers soon saw
that unless vital changes were made our
money would not hold out, and our rail.
way system would be very short. Neces-
sity truly became the motherof invention.
1.-THE first and most far reaching inven-
ton was that of the swiveling truck, which,
placed under the front end of an engine,
enables it TO run around curves OF almost
any radius. This enabled us to build
much less expensive lines than those Of
England, for we could now curve around
and avoid hills and other obstacles at will
"The next improvement was the inven-
ton OF the equalizing beams or levers, by
which the weight of the engine is always
borne by three out OF four or more driving
wheels. They act like three-legged stool,
which can always be set level on any irreg-
ular spot The original imported English
| locomotives could not be kept on the rails
| OF rough tracks. The same experience OBJ
| tanned in Canada when tho Grand Trunk
] ANYWAY vas 'lfllNl III lopt-b's ilt lNib-
| motives OF English pattern constantly ran
or the track; those OF American pattern
hardly ever did so. Finally all their loco
motives were changed by having swiveling
trucks put under their forward ends, and
no more trouble occurred. The equalizing
levers were first used by Rogers, in 1914.
These two Improvements, which are
absolutely essential TO the success OF rail.
ways in new countries, and have been
adopted in Canada, Australia, Mexico and
South America, TO the exclusion Of English
patterns, are also Of great value ON the
smoothcst and best possible tracks. Tho
heXibilitv Of the American machine in
creases its adhesion, and enables il tc
draw greater loads than its English rival
The same tlcXibility equalizcs its pressure
on the track, prevents shocks and blows
and enables II TO keep out Of the hospital
and run more miles in year than au
English locomotive"