Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-05-22
AMERICAN LOCOMOTIVES.

The fact that more than four million
dollars worth of American railway en-
gineS 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
So, 100000 worth in the corresponding
months of 1898, lends especial interest
to the following statement from re-
port by the British agent and consul
general in Egypt, which has just been
received by the treasury bureau OF
statistics. The report says: Large
additions were made in the rolling
stock in the course Of the last year.
Most of the new stock added is, how
ever, to replace cid stock which has
been condemned. i may mention that
four trial heavy engines exceeding
in power the largest locomotives in
use on the English railways-were or
dered last year, two from Glasgow and
two from America
The following extract from the re-
port of Captain JoAnstone, the acting
president of the railway administrA
ton, is also included in the report:
"The number of break-downs in our
stock has been very considerable, al
tho happily they have not led to any
considerable accidents. This is partly
due to the changes in the workshops
(now nearly completely, and to the
heavy traffic having necessitated the
postponement of repairs, and partly to
some of the stock supplied to us hav-
ing 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 al
lowed to tender for stock is being
carefully revised and the names OF
firms who have supplied unsatisfactory
material are being struck off. I am
glad to say that the only locomotives
recently supplied by an English firm
l-Messrs. Nelson, Reid & Co., Of Glas-
gow-have not given the slightest
trouble. Those purchased from Ameri-
en- in 1898 have also done we'll, but as
they differ in many respects from our
standard types, our own men have ia
ken some time to learn their peculiar
tiles and we have not been able to get
the best results out of them. The ac-
ton of the board in ordering loeomo-
tives and wagons (cars) from America
has been criticized. 1t is due partly to
this fact: That American firms, while
they are not in a position to tender on
more favorable terms than others on
our designs. almost Invariably offer us
engines or wagons built to standard
designs of their own at lower prices
and in less time; whilst English and
other European makers content
themselves with Offering on our de-
signs, being as a rule, not in the
habit of manufacturing to standard
designs of their own. We 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
present by competent English firms
to execute such orders is prohibitive,
and the only order placed for loco
motives this year, besides the trial or
ders referred to elsewhere, went to a
Belgian firm, who offered delivery in
three and one-half months less than
any English firm, and who have done
lwork for us in previous years.''