The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-05-14

The fact that more than four million
have been exported in the nine months
ending with March. 1900. as compared with
less than one million dollars worth in the
corresponding months ending with March,
1894, and Geo worth in the CORE
spending months of 1898, lends especial in
terest to the following statement from a
| report by the British agent and Consul
General in Egypt, which has just been re-
ceived by the Treasury Bureau of Stats
tics:
Large additions were made in the roll
ing-stock in the course of the last year.
Nest of the new stock added is, however.
TO replace old stock which has been con-
demned. l may mention that four trial
heavy engines-exceeding in power the
largest locomotives in use on the English
railways-were ordered last year. two from
Glasgow and two from America.
The following extract from the report
of Captain tombstone. the acting president
of the railway administration, is. | think,
of sufficient general interest to justify my
quoting il in full:
ne numger OF DTenkCOWGS IN our
stock has been very considerable although,
happily, they have not led to any consid-
cradle accidents. This is partly due to
the changes in the workshops, now nearly
completed, sad to the heavy traffic having
necessitated the postponement of repairs.
and partly 10 some of the stock supplied
to us having been of inferior quality. Now
that the greater part of the new work
shops are completed, repairs are being
pushed on. while the list of firms allowed
to tender for stock is being carefully re-
vised and the names of firms who have
supplied unsatisfactory material are being
struck off. / am glad to say that the only
locomotives recently supplied by an Eng
lish firm-Messrs. Nelson, Reid & Co.. oil
Glasgow-have not given the slightest
trouble.
Those purchased from America in 1899
have also done well, but as they differ in
many respects from our standard types.
our own men have taken some time TO
| learn their peculiarities and we have not
been able to get the best results out of
them. The action of the board in ordering
locomotives and cars from America has
been criticised 1t is due partly to the fact
that American firms. while they are not In
position to tender on more favorable
terms than others on our designs almost
invariably offer us engines or clrs built
to standard designs Of their own at lower
prices and in less time; whilst English
and other European makers content them
selves with rendering on our designs, be-
ing. as a rule, not in the habit of manu-
featuring to standard designs of their own.
I'VE much prefer adhering to our own
standards, but in cases where time and cost
are Of great Importance. such an offer from
America cannot be passed by. On the
other hand, the long time required at pres
ent by competent English firms to execute
such orders is prohibitive. and the only
order placed for locomotives this year. be-
sides the trial orders referred to else
where. went to a Belgian firm. who offered
delivery in three and one-half months less
than any English firm. and who have done
work for US in previous years
''Of the Kenen-Assuan railway. Captain
tombstone writes: Three new locomotives
have arrived and been taken into use
not before they were badly wanted. Thirty
cars and three more locomotives are on the
way These have all been ordered from
America, as they were urgently needed and
early delivery could not be obtained else
where"