The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-04-18

A little emphasis was added to the
growing evidence that substitute for
the wood tie must be found by the con-
Bideraton OF dimensions for a standard
tic, which were submitted to the Alncrl-
can Railway Engineering and Maintc-
nance OF Way Association at It's recent
meeting. The discussion centered upon
the point that tic seven inches by
eight inches BY eight feet Is too small
for the modern high speed track, In par
ticular affordlng insufficient bearing sur
face. and that on tho other hand, 1t Is
larger than necessary for other track
such ns spurs md sidings. Again. for
localities whore the roadbcd Is soft, as
IN tho South, tic approaching ten feet
IN length is required for stability. In
view OF this fact 1t was considered wise
to specify Dimensions for three classes
Of ties corresponding to tho three CLASSES
Of track. and these will be submitted to
the association at It's meeting IN 1907.
However the f,,tility OF adopting any set
OF standards for ties was pointed out by
Mr.. Baldwin, OF the Illinois Central. who
admitted that the supply ls virtually the
governing condition which determines the
size OF ties. Tho extent to which that
condition can be permitted to govern ms
demands OF traffic aud high speed In
OF existence OF tho wood tie. That some
substitute must be found hos been pointed
out innun1 ratle times, aud many are liy-
ing and working in the hope that they
will evolve the ideal equivalent 1t may
be well to bear In mind that such a sub
stitute must be not only the equal. but
n the superior OF the wood tie, nffording
by form, dimension, material and mass
better and more permanent bearing sur
IL :. IT,, tor ctp al
the roadbed.
The flfty-third meeting OF the American
Society of Mechanical Engineers will be
held at Chattanooga. Tenn, beginning on
May /. Headquarters will be at the Red
House Tho programme lnclndes reports
from committees on Standard Propor-
tions for Machine Screws and on
"Pennsylvania Railroad Tests Papers
will be presented as follows: Effect Of
4 a Blow" by A . w. Moscley and J. j..
Bacon Low Resistance Thcrmo Elec-
trio fPyrometer and Compensa tor" by
William II. Bristol; manganese Steel
by Henry D. HIbbard:. "A history OF the
Introduction OF Il System Of Shop Man
agement," aoy James NJ. Dodge; Col
llapsing Tlrcssures OF Bessen1er Steel Lap
Welded Tubes" by r. T. Stewart: New
Liquid Measuring Apparatus, by George
Z j. WILCOX; ''WnterWhecls Governing, Z
by Mark a. Rcplogle, George A. Buvin-
ger, John Sturgcss and George A. Henry,
Jr.: Efficiency Test OF Turbine Water
wheels by William o. Wetber: The
4 Improvement of the Tennessee River and
Powc. Installation OF the Chattanooga
and Tennessee River and Power Conf
pany ut Hale's Bar, Tenn. by Thomas
e. Murray. There will DO excursions 20
s Chickamauga National Park, to Lookout
Mountain and to tho plant at Hale's Bar
described In the last named paper.
The Boston and Maine Railroad has
tried an experiment this spring in send
ing through the state butter farm
Ing special similar in Its makeup to
similar trains run BY the Western rail-
roads. The experiment has met with
unexpected success. being visited by moro
than 1000 persons during its trip through
New Hampshire. The exhibits were fur
nished largely by the New Hampshire
College OF Agriculture Of Durham, and
President w. y. Gibbs, with a corps OF
assistants from that institution. have
been In charge.
There has lately been such train run
through the South. In charge of scienti-
nc farmers, who lectured on various sub
jects The plan met with favor here.
A special meeting OF the stockholders
OF the Lorain and Western Virginia Rail-
way Company has been called for APRIL
25, at IL A. NJ. in Cleveland, for the pur-
nose of consenting 10 al Increase in the
capital OF the company from $4,000 to
81. 10000. .s
-Y~rro1I nn1NYr an xy1EXXy