El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1900-06-22
RAILROADS.
Cost Of Running a High Speed.

W. r. Mates On the query, WAds
eoee il cost TO run high speed an.
gines2' presented ut she meeting OF
the American Society of Mechanical
Esgineers, submitted remarks as fol-
lows
II will confne my discussion to a
portion of Mr.. Delano's third group.
viz. the increased wear and tear OF
she permanent way, and especially OF
the rails. In paper presented Dy me
n meeting of the American Insti-
butte Of Mining Engineers held at the
Soranlon, in 1887, is somewhat ex-
tended discussion Of train resisssnces,
and the forces that produce abrasion OF
she rails, to which the attention OF
interested parties is invited. 1t Is
shsre shown that mathematically
speaking, snd assuming other things
10 be equal, tie force that produces
abrasion varies as the square of run
ming speeds. Il has been objected
that abrasion is lessened by the elsst-
lefty OF rails and springs, which may
be more efficient q: the higher speeds.
But when We remem bered that all
elastic reactions of metals require
time for their development, this OBJ
5sction would seem to have little Or
no validity: indeed, the truth may lie
she other way.
Moreover, we know that metal can
be abraoed only when its surface is
hcted upon by force greater than its
power of ultimate resistance, which
raises the question whether the actual
abrasion may not increase by ratio
greater than that by which she force
hs increased. This question may be
expressed thus: Does the resistance
Of the rail to abrasion decrease as the
force acting upon it is increased?
''The abrading force is essentially a
hammer blow, and q familiar illustra-
sion 10 the action of a hammer upon =
reek drill. We can imagine . TACK
hammer tapping the head of that drill
for . century without producing "a
much effect as single heavy blow of
the sledge, and yet mathematical COM
putation may prove ; much larger sg-
gregate force to have been exerted by
she tack hammer. The reason obvious
~ ts that the concentrated force of the
Ddedge destroys the elastic resistance
OF the metal TO certain depth, and
that one or more repetitions of the
blow would cause the metal to scale off
10 that depth. In such an extreme case,
while NV would correctly represent
the forces, it would fall very short of
representing the abrasion produced by
thOse forces.
These considerations apparently in
dicate that, as between certain wide
ranges OF speeds, the abrasion of rails
increases by some ratio greater than
the square OF the velocity. and that in
all variations of speed 1t will be fully
equal to the square.
sit is probable that the ordinary
statistics OF railway operation will give
DO reliable data on this subject. The
adoption OF high speed trains Is gen.
orally preceded by material improve
ments In the permanent way and rolling
stock, and the increased wear due to
the higher speed of few trains ia
marked by the large economies result
ing from the provements. st.
Louis Globe Democrat.
Texas Car Service Association.
The annual meeting of the Texas |
intendents of railways for Texas, was |
held st the general Offices in Houston, |
June l5. Twenty-four railways were |
represented by general managers and !
who listened to the |
report of the manager, which was
found to be most satisfactory.
During the year there have been
banded under car service rules 7l6 300
oars. OF these cars sos, 401, or $3.50
per cent. were released within the free
time, only p per cent. of the number
>.
I'D with deten ton before the organiZa-
lion of the association one car is now
doing the work of three and one-fourth
ears then. During the year five roads
joined the association, two, however
the Central Texas and Northwestern.
md Fort Worth and New Orleans), are
j attachments from the Houston and
Texas Central.
The report shows that the close SUI
oervfsion given by the association at
Galveston last year reduced very large
y the detention of cars, but that it is
'sil unsatisfactory and will continue
70 as long &c the system of export bills
IT lading issued in the interior is not
lone away with or greatly curtsiled.
A lot OF detail matter not of public
Interest was disposed Of.
Mr. Charles B. Peck WAS reelected
manager, und last years board was re-
slectsd, with Mr.. w. G. Van Week
Is chairman.
The roads represented we're: South
,rn Pacific system, Houston and Texas
Texas Railway, Gulf, Color ado and
santa Fe, Rio Grande and Ell Psso,
Southern Kansas, Texas Midland, Tex
srksna and Fort Smith, Houston East
md West Texas, San Antonio, and Ar
snsas Pass, Waco aud Northwestern.
Texas Central, Fort Worth and Den
Eer City, ST. Louis and San Francisco, I
Port Worth and New Orleans, Gen trial
Texas and Northwestern, Galveston,
Houston and Henderson, Wharf Ter
nfnals. and Galveston, Houston and
News.
Fine Piece OF Engineering. |,
The. line of the new Morencf South
IN road which extends from Morenci
o Guthrie, a distance Of % miles, Is