The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-04-06
ANTIPODEAN TALKS
OF RAILROADS
Says American Roads Are
Great, but Far From
Perfect.

Almeric Compton Shaw, deputy
commissioner of railways for New
South Wales, is at the West. Mr..
Shaw has made an investigation of the
railway systems of Great Britain,
France and the United States, with the
object of applying such methods as
may commend themselves to his judg
ment in the improvement of Austria
liam railway construction.
Most of the railways in Australia
are of the narrow gauge pattern and on
but a few lines is the American type of
locomotive known. The rapid develop
ment of the interior In certain parts Of
the continent demands an increase in
railway facilities, and there is a strong
prospect that the standard gauge will
be generally adopted.
It is a notable fact that the Austria
liam commissioner finds nearly as much
to criticise as to commend in the
American method of railway construc-
ton and administration. He does not
take the Australian roadbed or rolling
stock as his basis Of criticism, but
those of Great Britain and France.
You have certain elements of ex-
cellence In your construction of track
for steam railways, but these are neg
Igable in contemplation of the I'M
doubted imperfections that exist. 1t is
an excellent and safe practice not to
have the rail joints opposite each other,
but after consideration of all the mer-
its to be accorded American construc-
ton L believe you are short in those
very desirable elements of stability
which are inherent in the British type
Of permanent way. l recognize the i'm
mense distances of this continent and
the no less immense cost of conStruc-
ton, as we'll as the inevitability of fu-
ture conformation to the rules of safe
ty, but at present 1 find a distinct and
more or less appalling menace in the
use of the spike instead of screws or
bolts to faSten tracks down with. These
spikes are constantly working loose
and they have to be constantly driven
back to their original positions. Every
time one of these spikes is redriven it
Is that much less effective as a holder,
because the hole in which it is en-
bedded has become enlarged and in
capable of binding.
L very much question whether, TAX
Ing the cost of maintenance into con-
sideratiOn, the English method is not
the cheapest in the long run, as it most
certainly is the safest. One expensive
wreck due to spread rails will pay for
the cost of many miles of correct track
laying. OF course differences in the
price of labor and in cost of material
must be taken into account but from
our point of view even then the Brit
ish system is preferable.
With regard to signaling I think
you must admit that your roads are
far to the rear. Only about $4,000 miles
out Of 100000 in the United States,
measuring all your track as single, is
at present worked on the block sys-
tenn, and your block working here is
not so strictly interpreted as it is in
England. Two or three trains are con-
stantly allowed in the same section
at the same time. 1 have frequent
ly ridden on trains when the conductor
was handed a train order instructing
him to switch to the reverse track and
travel on it at a high rate of speed
until further orders, regardless of
trains in the other direction. This is
blind dependence on the mental surety
of one man, the train dispatcher, who
may conceiVably be out of sorts, unfit
for duty, or anything else that may
precipitate disaster"
Mr.. Shaw has made voluminous not
ed dealing with the elevated railway
systems of New York and Chicago
which he regards as excellent, the
overhead electric railway of Berlin, the