The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-04-28
HOW WE BEAT THE BRITISH.

The use OF American engines on Brit
ish railways. especially upon those in
Egypt, IS discussed in a report by the
Earl OF Cromer, the British consul gen
eraI in Cairo. a copy Of which has just
reached the treasury bureau of statis-
ties. The report states that American
manufacturers are able to furnish en-
gines Of their standard types at lower
prices and in less time than British
manufacturers. but that for specially
manufactured engines upon orders, diff
fering in detail from American types.
the prices Of British manufacturers are
slightly below those of the United States
and that tests Of American and British
engines in actual service have shown
that the American engines consume
from Is per cent to so per cent more coal
than those manufactured in England.
Two offers from American and British
manufacturers for specially made en-
gines according to specifications issued
by the Egyptian railway board are
quoted. In one of these the British
price is 2,240 pounds sterling, and the
American price, Zoo pounds sterling;
and in the other case the British price
Is $3.50 pounds sterling. and the Ameri-
can price, 1876 pounds sterling. To
this, however. Lord Cromer adds: On
the other hand, the American firm
(A4essrs. Burnham, Williams s. Co..
whose works are known as the Bald
win works. offered to supply engines
differing in certain particulars from the
Egyptian designs and specifications, but
which they held to be of equal power
and equally suitable to the work which
had to be performed Under these con
ditions. the American prices fell respec-
lively to 1855 and 2,475 pounds sterling,
that is to say. 19 per cent below the
British. The reason for this great fall
in price is sufficiently obvious; it is thus
explained by Mr. Trevithick. The
American firm, he says. were able to
introduce their stock standards and to
advance work continuously without be-
ing hampered by, to them, unknown and
unnecessary conditions, an advantage
which, in my opinion, quite accounts
for the difference in the cost and time
Of delivery between the Two makes Of
engines.
TT appears, however, that it is not so
much in the matter Of price as in re-
spect to the period required for the con-
struction that the American manufac-
turers have had the greatest advantage,
not only over British, but over all other
competitors. The figures in this connec-
ton are. indeed, very remarkable On
the two occasions given by Mr. Trevi-
thick. when British and American firms
entered into competition, the former Of
fered to complete the orders in 4s and
in 80 weeks respectively. The American
offers, on the other hand, were for de-
livery in Is and IS weeks, if the Egyp-
tan designs and specifications We're fol-
lowed, or in u and 30 weeks, if certain
changes in the designs were allowed
With reference to this particular
question of time, Mr. Trevithick for
warded a memorandum to Lord Cromer
as follows: THE Baldwin works are at
present turning out locomotives at the
rate Of 1000 year, or % per cent more
than the combined turn out of the four
leading English firms. Their secret of
success in rapidly and inexpensively con-
structing locomotives is their continuous
day and night work system of piece
work, and working to fixed types and
fem r,1o4ae