Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1897-04-17
10 STEEL OUT on DATE.


fully on Continental Lines.
The successful Introduction of rail.
road rails made entirely Of paper MA.
terial In Germany ard Russia has en-
couraged American manufacturers 10
experiment. The foreign mode Of max
Ing the rail consists in the employment
of mOlds and powerful pressing ma
chimes. the former for shaping the rail-,
and the latter for consolidating pur-
poses. Paper cur wheels have been in
use for many years, ana have given
satisfaction. 1t Is not assuming too
much to anticipate satisfactory results
with paper rails. The iron or steel
rails now In use are by no means free
from defects. The metal is always
more or less affected by the condition
of the atmosphere, and accidents are
frequently traced to the warpng, con-
traction or expansion Of rails.
Again, there are flaws and similar
imperfections In rails of the metallic
order, and these often give trouble. The
heavy locomotives and other rolling
stock of these days require extraOrdi.
nary large and heavy rails. consequence
~ the rails cannot DC made very long.
as the weight would be too much. The
paper rails are less than One-half light
er for the same length and size, SO
that. SO far rs the light question Is con-
cerned. the length of the latter can be
twice that of the iron or steel rail. This
Obviates the use of just SO many
joints, dispensing with SO many bolts
and connections. and relieving the
wheels OF the car from just so many
shocks.
The process Of manufacturing the
rails Is not difficult when once the nee.
essary compressive apparatus Is avail.
able. as the solidifylng operation is
probably the main part Of the whole
work. The composition of the rails In
cludes several varieties Of the paper
pulp stock. Wood pulp has not been
tried with any marked success us yet,
but ordinary pulp from rags, rope
| stock. etc, answers the purpose. The
processes Of grinding, cooking, digest
Ing and working Of the rags into n
pulpy condition are accomplished IN
regular order. care being taken to have
'stOck uniform In preparation and the
tibers as well preserved rs possible.
When In n pulpy condition the lngrc.
dents for stiffening the rail and rem.
dering It tough and efficient, SO rs ia
stand excessive wear ana friction from
the wheels ana for impnrtlng elasticity,
smOOthness and other needed require
ments. are applied. so varied have
these been that no definite proportions
Of any OF the substances are prOcura'
bic.
Quantities of bOraX. parnfiinc wax
tanners grease, waterproof fish glue
resin and fine cement IRE employed IN
necessary proportions. and IRE added
to the pulp while It Is yet warm. Mix
Ing follows. and the ingredients arc
thoroughly combined with the fiber. A
quantity Of sl,ellac and wood alcohol Il
next put into the mixture, and the mass
il subjected to another stirring ant
then permitted to settle.
The paper rails are strong, durable
can he bent for curves like other rail,
ana possess the advantage Of lightnes'
ana increased length, besides beini
easier for the wheels and cars. nnt
having other points OF superiority
Their cost Is said to be 10 per cent. les
than that Of steel. They are adnpta
bic for both paper md iron car wheels
Paper Trade Journal.