The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-07-24
RAIL AND CROsSTIE.

Superintendent of Terminals Morgan of
the Central left last night for johnson,
Tenn.
The celebration of the opening of the
Western North Carolina road to Murphy
will be an event in that section. There is
short gap of about fifteen miles from MUIR
ply to Blue Ridge, aud there is another gap
Of about H. q miles from Cleveland TO Star
Mountain. With these two gaps built Chat-
tanooga would then have a. almost direct
line to Norfolk, going via Cleveland, Star
Mountain, Blue Ridge, Murphy and Ashe-
Vile. These two gaps will likely be built as
soon as the Knoxville Southern can be got
ten in shape.
A resolution will be introduced in the
legislature in few days tC place the historic
old engine, the General" on the capitol
grounds in Atlanta. The engine is at pres
ent sidetrncked at Winnings station, aud IS
the property of the state. The General"
figured very prominently in the war, and
has been an honored guest at one or two
reunions of the old veterans since. The
resolution will in all probability pass both
houses without any trouble. II it does, the
General will be painted up and placed at
once on the capitol grounds, and used to
pump the water needed for the flowers and
shrubbery.
1t might be Of interests to readers, says the
Railroad and Engineering Journal, to
know that wood brake shoes were used by
railroads in their earlier days. Wood brake
shoes were in general use on the Baltimore
and Ohio cars, with the exceptions of iron
coal cars, from its opening until about 1858.
The shoes were principally of ash but oak
was used to some extent After the lines
crossed the Alleghanies it was discovered
that wood brake shoes would not answer, as
they burned out while descending the heavy
grades, and wrought iron shoe riveted to
cast iron block superseded the wood shoe.
The wrought iron shoe has since been
superseded by the cast iron shoe for passen-
ger and freight equipment.
The Engineering Record gives the follow
ing interesting information: "IU is esti-
mated that there are not less than 1926
electric railways in the United States,
England, Germany, Italy. Australia and
Japan, requiring 1000 and 1000 motors,
with 1900 miles Of track, with daily mile
age of not less than 100000 miles, and car
rying 750, 600, 600 passengers annually.
Grades of - and IA per cent. distances of
six miles OF more from the central stations,
speeds as high as from twenty-five TO thirty
five miles per hour for single cars and trains
of one to two cars are, according to the
Western Electrician, features Of their
operation. Not less than 10000 persons
represent the NUMBER employed on these
lines; 100000 coo of capital invested in the
United States alone, and present annual
business not less than s., 900, 900 to $40, OOO,-
900 on the part of the manufacturing and
contracting electrical companies, show the
present standing Of the street railway
works.
1t is very probable that the practice of
overlooking cars will soon be effectualiy
checked by the adoption of a simple little
device. 1t is a car scale, and is simple
piece of mechanism, which can be attached
TO any car, the weight Of which and its con-
tents is shown with perfect accuracy. The
weighing of cars heretofore, where given
any attention at oil, has been chiefly a
matter OF guessing, and the consequent loss
to the railroad companies from overlooking
has been enormous. The railroad companies
have been unable to protect themselves
against such abuses, because it is prac-
tically impossible to weigh each car in the
old way. By this new invention, which is
controlled by the Wanamaker Car Scale
Company, the weighing device is perma-
nently attached to the car without necessi-
teting any change in the present construc-
ton, and it requires but a moment to
ascertain the weight The public test at
indianapolis was witnessed by many rail
road men, who pronounced it a great sue
| cess. An exhibition car with the attach
nent will be taken TO the leading cities for
the purpose of showing the practical work
ing OF the invention. Patents on it have
| been secured in all European countries as
well as in the United States.