The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-11-18
NEaintenance Enginsers Discuss Inn
 portaut Points.

SGaintenance Enginsers Discuss Inn
 portaut Points.
 Yesterday the special committee ap- pointed by the American Association of Railway Maintenance Engineers on ques- tons pertaining to crossties concluded its two days session at the Cosmopolitan Hotel and adjourned to meet in St. Louis January IS, says a New Orleans paper.
 The meeting of the committee was very important one. Members from every part of the United States were here in attendance, and in the discussions cover- ing two days the matters coming within the province of the committee were thoroughly gone over.
 'one of the principal matters under dis eussion," said Chairman B. B. Cushing, of the Southern Pacific, yesterday, "was that of the preservation of cussed the chief one being the process known as Burnettixing. This Is e process whereby chloride of xinc is injected into the tic under pressure. Through this method woods which are now considered inferior can be utilized. and here the matter Is of interest because such woods as red gum. Tunpelo gum and sweet gum can be used, it is claimed.
 After discussing this method. the com nnittee recommended that experiments along this line bs made.
 Another process for lengthening the life of crosstie discussed was the meth- cd of 'trenailing.' which was explained by q gentleman who came from New York for the purpose of appearing before the committee. The trenail is a kind of plug which. 1t is claimed, enables railroads to use for crossties very soft woods, the hard plug being so placed that the wear and tear is mostly upon 1t. The trenair also takes the place of the tie plate. and Mediterranean Railroad. which were said to have been in use six years. and had then been taken out as too much worn to be of service. Trenails were introduced and the ties replaced. with the result, it Is said. that they are still in use now and apparently in good condition. although this took place in 1888. The committee suggested that tests be made of the method. A disadvantage was that the trenan method adds { to s cents to the cost of the tie.
 Another process as discussed, namely, the injection of mineral salts and treat ment afterwards with creosote. The creosote,, 1t is claimed, keeps the moist ure encountered in low countries from dissolving the salts. The ordinary pro- cess of treatment with mineral salts is in use by the Southern Pacific west of Houston, but east of Houston the method is not used, for the reason that the moist sure does dissolve the salts"
 Mr. Cushing said that the matter of supply was taken up, but was not dis oussed fully.
 4 full discussion, however, was en- gagged in regarding the matter of specih- cations. Under present conditions differ ent roads have different specifications. and the object of the committee is to work out and submit for adoption by all the roads which are members of the Asso- ciation a standard specification. Mir. Cushing said that specifications of fifty roads were taken up and discussed full ly. with the end Of having c standard of size and quality in all parts of tho coun- try. subject to variation on account of local conditions.
 The Association. which consists of the maintenance officials of the roads. is five years old and meets annually in Chiea. go. It appoints committees on various subjects and these committees meet in various parts of the country to take up the matters given over to them.
 Mir. Gushing said that his committee would hold an additional meeting in St. Louis on January IS to make up It's final
 
 and sent to the various members before the Association meets in annual conven- ton.
 Those who attended the meeting yester- day at the Cosmopolitan Hotel were: E. B. Cushing. Southern Pacific. New or- leans. chairman; W. W. Curtis. Consult ing Engineer, Chicago, chairman; Robert Bel. superintendent Pennsylvania lines. Bualo: W. c. Archer. assistant chief engineer n o. s. Railway. cincin- natl; W. W. Hayden. engineer. Yazoo and Mississippi Valley Railroad. Memphis: J. C. Hart, Nickle Plate. Cleveland, Ohio; c. c. Hannon, general manager. c. and E. I. Railway. Chicago: P. A. Mccarthy, chief engineer. D. D. and W. Railway, Denton, Texas; B. Ford, superintendent, vicksburg. Shreveport and Pacific Rail. road, vicksburg. Miss; J. W. Rowe. con. sulting engineer. Chicago; J. c. Nelson, general roadmaster. A. and v. Railway, Birmingham.