The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-09-12


from Samuel :. Lyon. the United states !
Consul IT HirEo. Japan. clipping from
the Kobe Herald. giving the views OK
the Sauyo Railway Company relative 10
the respective merits of English ana
America. locomotives. Mr.. Lyon writes
in connection with this matter that al
though British consular reports state
thar tho end is in sight for American 10
comotiv,s in Japan. this company, SO far
as Il is concerned Cuphaucally disaETrtS
with that view Of the subject. The fol-
lowing is the text of the Kobe Herald
article
We referred some short time ago TO
the discussion which has occurred in Eng
land and America as 20 the relative mer-
its of British and American built locomo-
tives The experience Of the Midland
Company. Of England, has been that
American locomotives, while much cheap
er as regards original cost. consume more
fuel and require more repairs than Brit
ish engines. while the latter. requir-
ing less repair must naturally last long
ct. Counter statements have been made
in the United States. and Lord George
Hamilton. secretary for India in the Brit
ish Government. has publicly stated that
experience in India was in favor Of the
American locomotive
1t may be recalled by some that con-
siderable discussion on this very ques-
tion of the comparative merits of the
81 IN and American locomotive took
plat in the columns of some Of the for
eiSn Durnals of Japan some few years
ago-in 1888. to be precise. \ budget of
letters appeared in this journal in connec-
tion with the claims made for the Ameri-
can engine by Captain Crawford Of the
Baldwin Locomotive Works, of Philadel-
phia. who came to Japan in the spring OF
1895 and introduced the American locomo-
tive 10 the railways of this country Al
that tine. the experience OF American en-
gines on Janauese railways was Of course
insufficient 10 admit of any general de-
auctions being made. and the controversy
that occurred WAS entirely based on Facts
ALLEGED as 20 the construction Of the
American and British types. and on eN-
perience in other countries. An actual
trial OF an American against an English
engine was made near Gotemba, on the
Tokaido lane. but the result was disputed,
and a final verdict does not appz 10
have been reached
In the interval the japanese Compa-
mics have had fuH opportunity Of aTriE-
ing at their own conclusions on the mer-
its Of the two types of engine chiefly com
peting for their patronage In view of
the recent discussion in the United States
and in England. and in view Of the sen
eral interest Of the question, considerable
importance attaches To- those conclusions
We are able. through the courtesy Of the
Sanyo Railway CfIcig.s. 10 give the TO
suits Of the experience OF this. the princi-
pal local c0mrauy-one Of the most enter
prisinE railway corporations in Japan In
brief il may be stated at once that the
testimony OF the Sanyo Comuauy's OH
cials is wholly against the British locomO-
tive.
THE Sanyo Company has been using
American engines for six years. They
had before used British engines only, and
SO favorable is the opinion formed Of the
American engine as against the British
that the company does not al present con-
template ordering any more British 10
cOmotives. On the other hand. the cOE-
pany orGSred eight locomotives from the
welI-known American works at Science
tady, Nov York State. Us recently as May
OF this year. and they have al present
ten engines on order from the Baldwin
Works Of Philadelphia
The Herald representative was given
TO understand that the SanyO Company
has altogether thirty-three American To-
comOtives at work, exclusive Of those
about 10 arrive and those recently order
ed. The company has twenty-four Eng
lish engines
In reply TO questions as to the reasons
for the cOmpany's abandonment Of tn
English engine. the officials said: We 90
not intend 10 order any more English en-
Eines just now. Our principal reasons
are that We cannot get them quickly
enough. and that they cost one and a half
times more than the American engine
From figures quoted 70 the newspaper
representative, IL appeared that the
American engine costs the japanese buy
ct $1,000. against $1,000 as tn cost 81 th'
British engine Moreover. the period with
in which delivery is made of the EnSli5t
engine. after order. Is from nine 20 tw,lv'
months, as against seven 10 nine month!
IN the case Of the America nmauufar.uT
ed. And we always want quick dolly
cry the company S representative added
The principal fault alleged aEalus. tn
American engine in England Is its com
paratively great consumption OF Ilg- Ol
this point the SauyO Company early eN
perieUce. e. seems. corresponI-c with tina
recently described in very positive term
by the locomotive superintendent Of tn
Midland Company, OF England
'. Now. however. the SauyJ t0np.Ei
finds. we can run American ana Eng
lish engines upon nearly the Same CON
sumption OF coal AND tho American en-
giuCs work as well 9s The English ca
Riues- . he coal consumption tf 'I
AmeTlCau locomotives used 90 r- great %
comparison. because W- only n.Gln q i'm
port them years after We had "a" Eng
llsh engine. ana ii.lf W'ihih5 was nv
t. us Now. however. We ln1 that tl
CDu.UUl-s r."I o. 1Iel IS about tho SAINT
With Am. rtcsU and English engines.
"Cu thu question Of Inc T.lltiE. dIra
riiity %. The cwp locomotives. the Sauy
raprss ltatiyas say they be.IeE, that th
life or the American locomotive VIII b
Fh0Irar than that ~ the English engine
hut they had NOT HntHalIE found that ID.
was 50 as yDt-simuly because %. .r OK
VrTiyugp was uHI extensive enough SD far
Tho company. b appears. has never Ee
broken mp .u engine owing 70 its age
The IO-01lU-iv,S OF their first Uurchas
ere san running and repairs are Away
effected SO as 10 keep them GolIE-V1rt
being renewed as they become unit 10
use.
some interesting particulars were Eiv
En- in re~uuUer % ru enquiry as 90 IN
points wherein tn. A-1s ria3a iHgonotiy
vas found S-T sls~ % the English on
giEe. Th, t!r. .sE lls;-ug.d- The SIuy
Officials lU1 that the tire ul the America
enEiu. lasts b.trgr than that Of the Er5
lsh prpl-rt- Tho steel seems 10 be- ard
er and Ih,rsI.r. more dIra bile. Then al
sight-feoliE- lutri-gtsT is found al ad
vantage in Tho N1Il ri-rI locomotive uo
DoSScsSe1 Dr. ID. ENGLISH maaufscturs
Also. the American type provides NOR
comtortablc drivers clbiuC Again. In