New-York tribune., 1907-09-15

excepting that It has bottom-and size the
Old wooden tie II il is desired the shell is then
painted. After this painting and shaping II
Is filed with n mixture of asphaltum and crushed
stone It Is turned over. and has its openings
in its upper surface cleaned out and prepared. so
that the bolts. which hold specially designed and
adjustable clip, be easily inserted and fastened
The adjustable clip for fastening the rail 10 the
tie Is formed from piece Of hve-eighths-inch steel
bar, one end Of which is turned down into slot
in the tie-Snd prevents the clip from moving
backward. and thus allowing the rails to spread
the other being bent Up in such way 10 cover
the bottom fange of the rail and 10 extend up
the side. web II necessary. and act brace
well n fastening. The slot in the top of
the tie IS so designed that certain amount of ad-
justment Is allowed IN admit OF any desired align
ment OF track: at the time, the clip ID fast
ened 10 this upper surface by specially designed
bolt and washer that hold Il absolutely tight and
will not permit any slipping The tie is ready
for use. and Will weigh from 800 10 500 pounds.
according 10 the specifications provided for It's
structon.
This tie has the shape the wooden one
and can be used with, substituted for the latter
at any point. it wears out
It's life from six TO ten times that OF tho
wooden tie; in fact, - practically endless. for. IL
damaged it he repaired at slight cost
II has quite the elasticity Of the wooden tie: and
this. it is said by experts other steel tie has.
This feature IS due to the asphaltum mixture with
which II is filed.
It has sufficient weight To- sustain the track: and
its shape. and the further that the asphaltum
mixture comes directly In contact with the road
bed, both at the ends and at the bottom OF the tie.
permits it TO b. tsmped and lined up in the
way as the old wooden ties and insures that after
being so aligned. It will remain inmovably in posi-
ton under the heaviest traffic.
The patent clip for fastening the rail allows ad-
justments not possible with the wooden or with
any other steel tie while the several other parts.
If subjected TO any extraordinary attack, or un-
calculated strain, or stress, will bend-not break
and therefore. as said. are readily repaired
Being heavier than the wooden. and indeed than
nearly every other known style of steel tie. it is
much better suited than these the heavier rails
heavier engines and heavier equipment that the
railroads are being called upon
In fact. u is claimed that of all the many and
various shapes of steel ties being introduced
this is the only that possesses these virtues.
An elasticity that permits the train TO smoothly
and easily. and not as though its passengers were
riding in a wagon without springs; ability TO be
tanped into Iine-on account of its inturned fanges
and 10 stay in line when pat there: capacity for
easy repair: extreme endurance, and superior and
wholly adequate track fastenings.
This is not cheap tie, however. While the
wooden tie of to-day costs, with the necessary
spikes and tie plates from 81 % to 81 75 and the
various other steel ties the market are selling
for from 81 up $i the "Amercan'-it has been
thus clriscned-coss from 8 % up to S. according
size, weight, etc. OF ma ter'als used
This steel tie was first designed and patented by
John G. Snyder. of Altoona, Penn Subsequently
the American Railway Steel Tie Company was
formed, and 10 it the patents and rights were
turned over There some two dozen patents, all
told covering the tie and the several clips
fastennes
The American" has been in in the yards
Of the Central Iron and Steel Company for nearly
two years and has given entire satisfaction. The
Pennsylvania Railroad has recently put down three
thousand Of these ties (see illustrationl and there
are several lots being tried out by various
other railroads
An arrangement has been made by the proprie-
tors, for the manufacture of this tie with the Cen
trail Iron and Steel Company whose plates are
known all the country, and have reputation
second TO none. That company was formed in 1853,
and has been continuously IN the iron and steel
plate business since that time Its plant is located
furnaces an open hearth steel and four large
plate" mills 1t produces every day 300 tons of
mig iron 400 OF steel and $50 of steel plate. 1t has
IFS own ore mines on the Mesaba Range in the
Lake Superior iron district. and 1t also
coal mines and coke ovens in West Virginia.
Al ,,resent a building 40 by 900 feet is devoted
IN the manufacture Of this steel shell asphaltum
tie. This shop is a steel structure with overhead
cranes for handling the material, and equipped
with the necessary punches. and furnaces
For ,q1aIxinr T. turn out 1000 ties day;
as tbe business grows both building and equipment
will and can easily be. enlarged and increased.