Evening star., 1897-10-29
A SACRIFICE OF WEEDS.
Railroads of the Southwest HampereS
by Vegetation on the Tracks.

by Vegetation on the Tracks.
From the Railroad Gazette
In the southwest the railroads have a
large item Of expense which finds no place
on the books of eastern companies, this
being for the removal Of weeds which grow,
rank and luxuriantly between the tracks.
seriously impeding rapid running being
crushed under the wheels and making the
tracks greasy and slippery. Various meth
DDS have been proposed and tried to de-
stroy these weeds. but that finally adopted
by the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe
read is to burn them by means of an oil
fame This burner destroys the vegeta-
taon between the rails and over a space
Qf twentyfour to thirty inches outside OF
them. The outfit consists Of car made
81 iron, of iron Shields suspended under
the car and between tho trucks. an Oil tank
car having capacity OF 4,5UO gallons and
q smaller oil tank of $40 gallons capacity
strong enough to Withstand pressure of
seventy pounds per square inch. This
tank is filed from the tank car and air
pressure is supplied for forcing the oil to
the burners. The car, which is sxty-five
feet long, is strengthened by connecting
trusses at each side and has a cab sheath
ed with corrugated iron at one end. The
car is intended to be pulled over the road
by q locomotive. The shield beneath the
car is t:lirty-two feet long with aprons
prevent side winds carrying the flame to
one side of the shield. The forward truck
is protected by an auxiliary shield fast
ened to the bottom Of the lower arch bars
When the fire is started the shield is low
cred to within three or four inches of the
rail and the aprons then slide on the ground.
When crossing bridges the shields are lift
ed clear of the rails twelve to fifteen inch
es by means Of air pressure from a reser-
voir acting through a train of chains and
pulleys. The oil supply is also cut off
in crossing bridges, and the moment the
OIL valves are closed the flame is extin-
guished and it is as readily renewed when
the oil valves are again opened. The oil
Is directed against the inclined under sur
face OF the shield, which retains sufficient
heat to ignite the oil, even after it has
been shut off for half an hour. In crossing
small culverts and cattle guards the closing
OF the valve Is unnecessary, as the lifting
OF the shield will carry the flame high
bers.
The compressed air for forcing the oil
through the burners and for lifting the
air pumps. these being sufficient to main-
tam an air pressure Of seventy pounds
with four burners In use. The amount
OF OIL required for each burner is about
Is preferred. Only few minutes are
required to get an effective heat after
reach1ng the place where the work is to
be done. and after the first few minutes
dropping on the rails and making them
greasy A gang Of four men follow close
70 lne car to put out all ties fired, but
Il Is the intention soon to use steam jets
rcm the locomotive in extinguishing fired
ties The speed with which the car trav
els depends upon the kind of vegetation
to be scorched. Early in the season when
weeds are tender and not over five or six
inches high. a speed of four miles an hour
iS practicable. whereas II the track is
thickly covered and matted with heavy,
coarse grass the speed must be reduced
TO two and a half miles an hour. Only
the light blades OF grass are consumed
the greater part being scorched, and while
many stalks appear quite green after the
name passes over them. in few days they,
too. wilt and die. One curious and un-
explained fact which has also been OBJ
served In connection with forest fires Is
that new kind OF vegetation appears
after each burning. The cost of operatinr
the car for day Of twelve hours is $50.
50 that covering thirty miles a day the
average cost per mile is $1.66 It is claim
ca the OH consumed Is q comparatively small
Item In the total charge, the transfer from
one part OF the road to another and the
use OF locomotive bringing It up to the
sum named.