The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1906-01-29
NOTES OFTHE RAIL WAYS
Beveled Rail Joint Invented tc
Prevent Jolting of Cars.
HIGHEST BRIDGE ON ANY LINE

HIGHEST BRIDGE ON ANY LINE
Fades Viaduct In France 434 Feet
Above Water Level-Value of Tele-
phones For Train Crews-Automat-
&c Oil Cup For Locomotives-Privat
Train For Charles M. Schwab.
Mrs. l. J. Crawford of st. Joseph,
Mo-, recently invented rail joint that
promises to entirely eliminate great
annoyance to travellers on railways
and, what is more, reduces the posi-
bility of danger from train wrecking,
says a special dispatch from st. 10
seph to the Chicago Inter Ocean.
The device is called the Crawford
joint" but it might be very APPLY
styled the joint without the jolt. Mrs.
Crawford claims for her invention that
it will overcome the everlasting click
ing and jolting which is one of the I'M
pleasant features of travel over the
rails now in use on all lines. 1t con-
sists merely in beveling the ends of
the rails. Instead of chopping the rails
square at the ends, as is now done, and
fastening them together by means of
plates to shank Mrs. Crawford would
have the rails cut off Obliquely, with a
very gradual taper toward point, and
would then place the tapering ends to-
gether, one overlapping the other, and
would hold them in place by means of
bolts. The Crawford joint will proba-
bly, be six or seven feet in length, long
enough to give space for three or more
ties to support it. This is cheaper than
the old way, since no plates are neces-
sary.
A notable engineering work is now
being executed in France and involves
the construction of a viaduct crossing
Harper's Weekly. This structure,
known as the Fades viaduct, when
completed will be the highest railway
bridge in the world, the level Of the
rails being 434 feet Z inches above the
bed of the stream. There are two gran
lite masonry tower piers which are
founded on solid rock and rise to a
height of 3O3 feet. These piers stand.
ing alone have the appearance of large
chimneyS, but their function is to sup
port the three steel spans, which have
the unusual lengths of 472 feet inches
for the center span and 81 feet for
each of the fanking spans The latter
connect with masonry approach spans
formed by circular arches.
This bridge differs from other struc-
lures in the use of masonry instead Of
steel for the center towers and the use
of lattice girder deck spans instead Of
the arch construction of either masonry
or steel, a favorite method of crossing
such valley.
Telephones on trains for the use of
the train crew is the latest improve
ment Installed in train service by the
Union Pacific, says an Omaha special
to the st. Louis Post-Dispatch. Ex-
periments already on the through trains
have proved satisfactory. Superintend-
ent Korty Of telephones and telegraphs
declares:
1.-THE object Is to fix a scheme by
which the conductor or trainmen can
converse with the engineer and thus
facilitate the handling Of trains. Of
ten considerable time could be saved
if the conductor was able to talk to
the engineer, and this is an opening
wedge. We are looking for all devices
which will add to the safety of passen-
gers in the operation of trains as we'll
as to increase their speed"
On the c. and P. division Of the Penn
sylvania three engines of new type
have been installed, says the Buffalo
News. They are humpbacked looking
things, but are said to be economical
They are fitted up in such a way as to
get rid Of the eccentrics on the inside
Of the wheels, and thereby the mechan-
ism Of the engine is simpliied. This
permits a slightly lower construction,
while retaining the weight and the ad-
hesive powers of the engine to the rail-
1t saves much in the way of main
tenance by being more simple. For
that reason the new engine is said to
be very effective
j. M. Starr and J. II. Tomlinson have
invented a device for lubricating the
air cylinder of air pumps on locomo-
tives, says the st. Louis Republic. 1t is
small cup, which screws on the top Of
the cylinder. 1t holds about three tea
spOOnfuls of oil and when the feed
valve is set generally runs one week in
passenger service. Mr.. Starr is a loco
motive engineer on the Vandalia, and
Mr. Tomlinson is a machinist with the
same road.
According to Pittsburg dispatches,
Charles NJ. Schwab is not satisfied with
possessing a private car, but has ar
ranged for the purchase Of a special
train Of Pullman coaches. Mr. Schwab
will be the first individual to own and
operate such an expensive luxury as an
entire train of cars.
On the Rome, WATERFOWL and Og-
densburg tests said to have been salts
factory were recently made Of a new