The record-union., 1896-04-01
IMPROVING IT'S ROADBEDS.
NOVEL DEVICE ADOPTED BY THE
SOUTHERN PACIFIC.
COMFORT, ,>Safety and Economy Erected
The Usefulness Of Red
wood Enhanced.

As q result of the policy being pur-
sued by the Southern Pacific redwood
ties are likely to be more in demand
than ever, and their use may be ex-
tended to lines now using harder and
more costly material on which to lay
their rails
Redwood has peculiar lasting quail
ties; in fact, no wood OF its weight and
density has ever been discovered to
equal it in this respect The objection,
however, to its more extended use for
railroad ties has been that it's softness
permitted the rail to sink into the tie,
and thus not only damage the tie, but
make the roadbed somewhat rough and
uneven By an innovation this draw
back is virtually eliminated.
About two years age, while he was
stationed at the Atlantic end of the
road, General Manager Kruttschnitt be-
ean the use of what are known as tie
plates. These are plates of steel little
wider than the base Of the rail and the
length Of the width of a tie. 1t has three
ribs on the under side, and these ribs
hold the plate in place on the tie after
it has been driven into the ties with a
maui. AT diagonally opposite corners
of the plate are the holes through which
are driven the spikes by which the rails
are held own. On each tie are two
plates. one for each rail, and about s.
zoo plates are required for each mile of
track
These plates effectually prevent the
rail from sinking into and wearing away
the tie, and thus not only save the tie,
but preserve the smoothness of the
rcadbed- They also add materially to
the safety of the road, for a rail before
1t can be forced from alignment must
move both spikes which hold it down to
the tie through the tie plate, whereas
under the old method the loosening of
one spike was enough to permit rail
to spread.
On the Eastern portion of the South
ern Pacific Railroad pine and cypress
ties are used, but these must first be
prepared so as to make them lasting,
but redwood requires no treatment from
preservatives, and with the introduction
Of tie plates will become more popular
than ever in railroad construction.
The Southern Pacific Company is the
first to apply this innovation to any
great extent, having put in 1000, 900 on
the Atlantic end OF the Southern Pacific
and about 100000 on this end. The
plates cost about ten cents each and
the improvement thus far effected by
means Of their use has cost $3.50, 900.
uhe plan Of utilizing them will be pur-
sued until gradually the whole system
VIII be thus reinforced and improved
Another general plan of improving the
Southern Pacific Railroad is being fol-
lowed, IN the shape of ballasting with
gravel wherever the traffic is heavy and
the roadbed naturally dusty Ballast
ang with gravel, 1t is claimed by Cen
eraI Manager Kruttschnitt not only
makes the road safer, but cleaner and
smoother. Among the portions now be-
ing thus treated are the stretches be-
tween Mojave and Palmdale Bakers
neld and Pampa, and ten miles in the
Sdn Gorgonfo Pass on the Southern Pa
cine. and on the Coast Division between
Pajaro and San Bruno
Six new postal cars have been added
10 the equipment of the Central Pacific
railroad, at cost of about 81, 500 each.
ihey are yestlbuled, gas-Iighted and
steam-heated, and will run between
Oakland and Ogden
General Manager Kruttschnitt. who
returned from his three-weeks' tour of
inspection of the Southern Pacific Rail-
road yesterday, and who accompanied
cornelius Vanderbilt and Chauncey De-
pew OF the New York Central Railroad
from New Orleans to the coast, left the
New York railroad men at Santa Bar
para on Sunday. 1t is expected that the
distinguished sojourners will arrive in
this city Tomorrow OF Thursday.-San
francisco Call, March 31st.