The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1890-01-17
IN FAVOR OF METAL TIES.


be gained by the use of metal ties.
In Switzerland metal ties have
been in service a sufficient length
of time to give some reliable evil
dence of their value as compared
with wood. They were there sub
jected to severe tests OF climate,
gradient and curves. The report
of Mr.. Mayer, the chief engineer
of the Western railroad Of Switzer-
land and the Simplon railroad,
was that since 1888 metal ties had
been used for considerable por-
ton of the renewals on all sections
of the roads in his charge, the total
length now in use being more than
sixty-eight miles, representing
126,990 ties in track, and that all
renewals are now made with them
in consequence Of the satisfactory
service they had given OF the
number laid down since 1888 only
torty-three ties had been taken out
for breakage or other causes. 1t is
impossible yet to say what would
be their duration. as the first laid
down show no deterioration, but
one of the same number of oak
ties under similar conditions of
time and traffic they already had
had to replace between 10000 and
$4,000. 1t was found sufficient to
space them three feet from center
to center. The gradients are as
high as 2.3 per cent. while the
traffic amounts to thirty trains a
day in each direction and the max
imum, speed forty miles an hour.
The experience of the company is
that there is noticeable decrease
of ordinary road maintenance cost
after the second year with the
metal tie. On this point another
Swiss company stated that on
section Of 1873 miles laid with
metal ties against the same length
of section laid with new wooden
ties. the cost of maintenance mot
renewal) was for the third year
1869, against 1858, Or about As
per cent. From all the Swiss rail
roads the verdict was in favor Of
metal ties. Her Brauns, at the re-
cent meeting Of German metall-
urgists at Dusseldorf, stated that
on the Prussian railways alone
1,GGS, 1T0 metal ties have been lald
since 1856. This action has been
taken after long continued tests.
The Mexican railway company
also after extended experience has
adopted a steel tie as the standard.
and at the end Of June of this
year has laid seventy seven miles
OF road with them. The engineer
of the road states that the track
laid with them is exceptionally
good. while it is maintained at
much less cost than before.
OF course it is impossible to
compare the cost Of maintenance
of track in one country with that
in another, but to take the Penn
sylvania railroad company, for ex
ample, we find an expenditure last
year OF $6,119,590 for mainten-
ance of way on 1860 miles of road
Or nearly $4,000 a mile.
A saving of 30 per cent Of this
would provide 2 per cent extra
dividend on the Pennsylvania rail
road compeny's share capital. OF
course metal are more expensive
than wooden ties. but air brakes
air brakes are more expensive than
the old hand brakes that are so
rapidly disappearing. The wooden
tie will certainly go also. 1t is
satisfactory to note that at least
three important railroad compan-
ies-the Pennsylvania, the New
York Central and the Chicago and
Western Indiana-are making Sc
rious tests of this improvement on
the hitherto accepted type of per
manent way, and that at a very
early date we may expect one Of
the forms of metal tie now under
experiment to be adopted as the
standard for all renewals.-En-
Gineerinr and Mining Journal.