New-York tribune., 1902-05-06
AMERICAN ENGINES IN EGYPT
BUILDERS TAKE LESS TIME IN FILLING
ORDERS. But THE LOCOMOTIVES
CONSUME MORE COAL

Washington May (speciaD.-The use OF Amer
lean engines on British railways. especially upon
those in Egypt discussed in report by the Earl
Of Cromer the British Consul General in Cairo.
copy OF which has just reached the Treasury Bu-
reau Of Statistics The report states that American
manufacturers are able furnish engines OF their
standard types lower prices and IN less time than
British manufacturers but that for specially manu-
factured engines upon orders, differing in de-
tail from American types. the prices or Erltish
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 p 10 80 per
cent more coal than those manufactured in Eng
land.
Two offers from American and British manufact-
urers for specially made engines, according 10
specifications issued by the Egyptian Railway
Board quoted. In OF these the British price
is - 80 and the American price f2TO0 and in tho
other British price is e go and the Ameri-
can price f3575. To this. however, Lord Cromer
adds:
ON the other hand, the American firm lMessrs ,
as the baldwin Works. offered 10 supply ensines
designs and specifications. but which they held TO
which had to be performed. Under these conditions
the American prices fell respectively to ASSS and
obvious II is thus explained by Mr.. Trevithick:
The American firm ne says was able 10 introduce
its stock standards and TO advance work c9ntlnu-
ousy. without being hampered by, TO IT, unknown
and unnecessary condttons-an advantage which,
the cost and time Of delivery between the two
makes Of engines"
the matter OF price as in respect to the period re
GuiT@I tr fUr 1e bsy had fhe ereetest advantsSe
not only British. but over all other competi-
EST Tery On the the two occasions given BY
Mr.. TTeyithick. when British and american nrns
complete the orders in fortyeight and ninety weeks
hand Were for de1erT n egR9een aDd thirty
weeks, Il the Egyptian designs and specihcations
W followed and thirty
certain changes in the designs, were allowed.
1t cannot be doubted that the main reason why
so many orders for railway and other plants re-
quired in Egypt have recently been given to Amer
them with extraordinary rapldity; For reasons
reports. and on which I need not, therefore. dwell
at present, railway development In Egypt did not
ing prosperity of the country. The natural result
material Was required for delivery in a short time
and inasmuch as American firms We're in a far
quirements OF the government as regards time OF
went to America.
With reference to this particular question OF time
Mr. Trevithick forwarded a memorandum to Lord
Cromer. as follows:
The Baldwin Works are at present turning out
more than the combined turnout of the four lead
sas sSsrP EPSsh teMar m and son & Their seere o
success in rapidly and inexpensiyeIy constructing
system Of piecework. and working to fixed types
sa sTea ami cam be- in the
tion of machines so complicated locomotives
when by working day and night. double the
amount Of work is obtained out of the plant and
buildings (captaD when no scheming nor draw
ings are necessary and when complete sets OF
templates and patterns exist
Moreover, under this system they are able TO
make use of labor saving machines and tools Spe-
ciaIIy designed for the manufacturing of the var-
Gus parts forming their standard locomotives the
employment OF which would be inadmissible In
English workshops where only few engines
constructed TO the same type.
Thus II is that the Baldwin Works. so long as
they have sufficient orders to engage their ma
chinery day and night. and are allowed to con-
struct their own standard types. success
fully compete with the world in locomotive manu-
facture
With regard to the consumption OF coal by the
various types of engines. Lord Cromer reports as
follows:
1t is however. in respect to the relative con-
sumption of coal that the recent trials OF spe
TO render trials fair On this point Mr.. Trev-
thick says These comparisons have been carried
out under exceptionally favorable circumstances.
inasmuch the locomotives employed typ-
cal of respective countries in design and
manufacture and the results cOnjOnty signed by
a representative sent out by the American builders
and a locomotive inspector OF the Esyptan railway
administration
Trials were made with both goods and passenger
engines 1t was found that. in the case of goods |
engines the American consumed 25.4 per cent more |
coal than the British engine. while the latter was
drawing 142 per cent more load In the of the
messenger engines, the American was 80 per cent |
more than the British consumption with the same |
average load This latter difference represented at
34s I'd a (the average price paid last year by
engine Major Johnstone. in reviewing these fig 4
ures saws speaking more especially of passen-
engines: THE contrast between about twenty 4
pounds of coal mile in the best runs OF the Brit