The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-02-27
ALL TRAFFIC USES
Freight, Passenger, Baggage
and Mail Equipment.
other Items of General Inter-
est in Traffic World.

New York, Feb. 27.-Within the COM
paratively recent past mine operators
have observed a complete transition in
the types of cars supplied by the rail-
roads for the transportation of mine
products from the sources of supply to
the points of consumption. The small
capacity wooden car has been super
seeded by the. car of all steel for the
moving of heavy freight and the
economical advantages of the after
have been thoroughly tested.
Upon the demonstration of superior
ity of the steel car in railroad trans
portion, impetus was given to the plan
of extending this style of construction
to many of the smaller types OF cars
for Industrial purposes and particular
~ to mine cars. The necessity for
stronger cars as well as for cars of
greater capacity have served to con-
vince operators that steel cars viii in
sure most economical operation. Mine
cars of steel are becoming more pOpu-
lar every year with mine owners on
account of their strength as compared
with wooden cars, and a less number
are required to operate a mine of a
given output, as fewer cars are out Of
service on account of repairs.
The widespread adoption of the steel
car for the movement of ore, coal and
other heavy materials brought up the
question of the steel underframe car,
and early in 1900 such construction was
begun, with the result that at present
steel underframe merchandise cars are
the standard types of most of the rail-
road systems of America. Chief among
the advantages to be gained in the use
of steel cars for freight are greater
ratio OF paying load to dead weight,
great resistance to shocks OF collision,
higher average mileage by reason of
reduced detentionS en- route for run
ming repairs. Also a reduction Of the
number of cars required to haul q
given tonnage, less resistance per ton
carried, and reduction of trackage and
storage facilities for a given tonnage,
at industrial tracks and terminal
yards.
Steel Passenger Car.
Public demand for faster passenger
trains and a safer form of passenger
train equipment directed the attention
of the manufacturers to the necessity
of following similar lines of construc-
tion in cars for carrying passengers, by
substitution of steel for wood as far as
economically practicable The subject
was gone into thoroughly and the steel
passenger car of today was evolved
through several steps; first, there we're
designed and submitted to various rail-
road companies plans for the4 use OF
steel in the UNDERTAKING. of passenger
cars. At that time the idea was con-
sidered to be too far. in advance of
transportation requirements and no
action was taken. In 1903. however.
steel underframes were constructed
for several lots of elevated railroad
cars, and the result of this evolution
We find in the elevated, subway and
steam railway cars of steel now in
service.
The demand for steel passenger cars
has developed two distinct lines of.con-
structiOn; one absolutely fireproof, and
the other semifireproof or noninflam-
ulable. The senifireproof car has a
steel underframe, cement floor, steel
superstructure with lining or sheathing
of some fireproof material The fire
proof car is constructed wholly Of ma
terial that will not burn.
The initial cost of a steel car is
greater than the car of wood, but the
life of the steel car is estimated at
from two to three times as long as that
of the wo den car, and in comparing
the length of service of the steel car
with that of the wooden car it should
be remembered that numerous re-
newaIs of the various parts in the lat
ter practically amount to rebuilding
the car during its life, while the ma
terials employed in the construction OF
the steel car last as long as it is in
use.
Cost of Construction.
In connection with the increased cost
OF steel car construction there should