Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-02-17
OUR MAIL POUCH.

Mr.. Neidig Responds TO His CrItIcs-TheIr
Points Discussed-His Iron Track Sys.
TEN Sustained and the Opposition ChaI-
lenged to n Comparison Of Facts and
Figures.
| To the Editor OF The Dispatch:
The undersigned. in discussions with his fel-
low men, always endeavors TO meet propositions
that are more tangible than what they seem to
think" 1t is pretty difficult while a man
thinks. to just get at what ''he seems to think,
ard still more difficult to get at just what he
does think. The better plan is to draw him out
and consider only his expressed propositions.
Your correspondent. "Old Fogy," in Fridays
| DISPATCH. has fallen into this error Says this
critic: Mr.. Neidig differs only from others
who have given this plan attention. in provid-
ing no place or roadway for the horses"
The system which was set forth in last Sun
| days DISPATCH had but a few paragraphs de-
voted to the road under consideration and that
part was pretaced thus:
Now, without going into any wearisome de-
tails, ETC., he stated further what will lose no
| force by repetition, "Once the wheels are at
tended to, once provided with smooth and un-
yielding surface" nov mark, 'the solution Of
the entire problem comes In sight"
Does "Old Fogy' grasp this? This coming
into sight of the solution OF the "entire prob
lem"9 1t was certainly not logically inferable
that his system was exactly described" as is
advanced were so plainly qualified.
Now, let US go into some calculations on this
matter, and the writer respectfully requests
the advocates of any rival system TO do the
same. Let us now consider one mile Of this
proposed road:
An oak plank 6x2 inches and IL feet long,
will weigh 63 pounds. An iron bar, equivalent
to dx% inches and II feet long will weigh ac-
cording TO the tables, 7.5l pounds per foot and
IL feet would then weigh 9012 pounds. This
added to the 6S-pound plank. would make
total of, say l54 pounds. This then is the
weight Of single 12-foot iron barred plank,
exclusive of devices for fastening etc.
Now as important roads generally intersect
railroads, let rs commence the construction
of this road at some railway crossing first, as it
may then be used over which to convey mater
ial for other roads. We will commence track
laying at once, to get material along the line
and attend to minor details later on. 1t is safe
to say, that on this track, three tons is not
overlooking team. Now let us see:
One rail weighs l54 pounds. In load Of 40
rails are l60 pounds over three tons. These
40 rails will lay 20 l2-foot lengths of track, q
distance of A0 feet. In mile are $3.50 feet,
and 1t will take so many loads for the mile as
24O is contained times in $3.50 which puts the
loads per mile, of this part of it, at q
Now, what do you think of this Mr.. Travel
Ter" when YOU assert that the expense of its
transportation through the country would be
heavy? Compare this work with from 1000 to
rood n,oood odorat-aj - rffoIf.-d 1913
sCHu III ~ aug ~ LIEU VI 1eltvLu t tMvau M
transportation through the country" through
anu a0Ivss @ IaSies, 1seI gossiS, S
dot;y IN Lts SuItyVslo Staee, ~ me nnat @
az tc a.. ~ rYHau t., also yo1
cAtcn on tnat nave only consloereo Wagoning
M ny naLerlal on tne non tracks; ana tnas pan
~ IuSAs iuS San ps useu, uolDlns ~ IiE HISDLnE
tt sno M Loau anu IN tno sane RLoPoreOn euuIclns
eHe NUMBER OF dIaugntsF doW many ION IOads
OF stone-and ton Is load-are eqqlValenE
TO 24O feet of road?
now as to cost. Put the plank at elo per
l,UOO; the iron az $40 per ton, and the cost OF
one mile is 81, 10Y.
On Ine track thus Iald down any otner mater
1al necessary can now be transported at mini
mum OF cost. This may be gravel, einder,
crushed stone or whatever may be deemed nee
essary. good deal more can be done before
me COST comes halt way to the cost OF nrst-
CLASS stone pike.