The Portland daily press., 1897-01-25
RAILS MADE or PAPER.
PAPER Makers Make Another Attempt to
Displace Use of Steel.

The successful introduction of railroad
railsTmade entirely from paper material
in Germany and Russia, has encouraged
American manufacturers to experiment.
The foreign mode Of making the rail
consists in the employment of moulds
and powerful pressing machines, the
former for shaping the rail, and tie lat
ter for consolidating purposes. Paper
car wheels have been in use Ter many
Years, sand have given satisfaction. LIZ IL
understanding too much to anticipate salts
factory results with paper rails. Ihe
iron or steel rails now in use are by no
means free from defects. The metal Is
always more or less affected by the con-
ditions of the atmosphere, and accidents
are frequently straced to the warplng,
contraction or expansion Of rails.
Again, there are flaws and similar i'm
perfeotious In rails of the metallic order,
and these often give trouble. The heavy
locomotives and other rolling stock Of
these days require extraordinary large
and heavy rails, consequently the rails
cannot be, made very long, as the weight
would be too much The paper rails are
less than one-half lighter for the same
length and size, SO that, SO far as the
light question is concerned, the length
of the latter can be twice. that Of the iron
or steel rail. This obviatss the use of
just so many joints, dispensing with
many bolts and connections, and reliev-
ing the wheels of 1.-The car from just SO
many shooks.
The process of manufacturing the rails
is not difficult when once the necessary
compressive apparatus is available as tbs
solidifying operation is probably the
main part of the hole work. The COM
position of the rails includes several
varieties Of the paper pulp stock. Wood
pulp has not been tried with any marked
success as yet. but ordinary pulp from
rags, reps stock, etc., answers the pur-
pose. The processes Of grinding. cook
Ing, digesting and working of the rags
into pulpy condition are accom- pished
In regular order, care being taken to have
the stock uniform in preparation and
sJlo ADIob as we'll PIcSOINOu az poooho1u'
When in pulpy condition the ingredi-
ents for stitfening the rail rendering it
tough and efficient, so as to stand excess
i've wear and friction from the wheels,
and for imparting elasticity, smo0thness
and other needed requirements. are ap-
piled. So varied have these been that no
definite proportions Of any OF the sub
stances are procurable.
Quantities Of borax litharge, paraflne
wax, tanners grease, waterproof fish
glue, rosin and fine cement are employed
in necessary proportions, and are added
to the pulp while it is yet warm. Mix
ing follows, and the ingredients are
thoroughly com bined with the fibre. A
quantity Of shellao and wood alcohol is
next put into the mixture, nnd.th macs
is su bjected to another stirring and then
permitted to settle.
The paper rails arg strong, durable can
be bent for curves ike other rails, and
possess the advantages of lightness and
increased length, besides being easier
for the wheels and cars, and having other
points Of superiority. Their cost is said
to be so per cent less thau that of steel.
They are adaptable for both paper and
iron car wheels. Paper Trade Journal.