The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1913-06-14

the modern railroad rail, without much
result.
History of New Rail.
The history of the new Hellstron-
Olson rail is unique and interesting,
for it carries with it a human inter-
est side which always appeals. When
lconfined in the penitentiary, Mr.. Olson,
knowing the crying need for an inn
proved rail, endeavored to develop
something Of practical value. He con
Iceived a reinforced a ait certain IN
itervals which he thought would tend
to lessen the danger.
He brought the matter to Mr.. He'll
Istrom, then warden OF the penitenti-
airy, but the latter did not feel it was
wholly the thing to fully solve the
difficulty. 1t set him to thinking,
however, and after many months the
lpresent invention was evolved much
to the qualification of both. After the
recent campaign, in which Mr.. He'll
strom was defeated for governor, he
set about perfecting the patent rights
and organization, although much of
this has been under way for some time.
The Rails Features.
The HelIstrom-Ols rail is divided
into two parts, one part serving as the
tread to receive the wheel pressure;
the other part being a reinforcing bar
which holds the tread in position and
lreinforceS it, 1t is necessary that the
tread should be hard in order to with
stand the wear of constant use. This
necessitates the use of a high carbon
steel which crystalfzes very easily in
cold weather, and also from other
causes, n breakages are quite fire.
quent.
The reinforcing bar is placed back
of the rail In such a manner a to
| sustain it and absorb a portion of the
load and shock. This bar, not being
exposed to the wear and direct shock
and hammering of the wheels, does
not have to be hard and can be made
of low carbon steel of great tensile
strength and t~oughness.
The two parts are bolted together
and spiked to the ties and if from any
cause the tread portion should snap or
break, it would still be held in place
by the reinforcing bar, which will not
break because it is made of a low
carbon steel and will not crystalize.
BY this combination of hard and soft
material perfect safety is attained,
also greater strength and greater
durability.
Economic Features.
There are a number of economic
features over the ordinary rails. The
tread portion is made in such shape as
to permit of it being reversed, thus
giving two wearing surfaces or a
double use of the rail.
Its wearing qualities will be in
creased by reason of it's being rein
forced by a bar of soft steel so that
it can be rolled harder than it is pos
slble to make a solid rail.
Being symmetrical in make and the
metal equally distributed throughout
the entire rail, makes it possible to
roll it straight and it will cool
straight. This will avoid the present
expensive method of Strengthening ''T''
rails which is done by hand under a
gagging press and requires the use of
highly skilled and high priced labor.
heavier than the base, and in cooling
off, the shrinkage is unequal. The
1anges having greater surface exposed
to the atmosphere. cool much faster
than the head and consequently shrinks
more, which has the effect of warping
the rail out of shape.
The difference in cost of straighten-
ing the HeIlstrom-olson rail and the
ordinary "T' rail, If all ST, rails now
rolled annually should be replaced by
the safety rail, would amount to sew
eral million dollars annually, and If
nothing else were accomplished this
would be ample Justification for antici-
pating the earning of large dividends
on account of this saving alone.
Soon to BE Tried.
The Hellstrom-Ofson rail has been
subjected to the seyerest criticism at
Gary and other points. Many railroads
have been interested, but it is the 500
system which will be the first to try
lit out.
Arrangement were perfected for this
last autumn and it is expected the trial
will be made in the near future. Tt will
be q proud momen for North Dakota
when the official test is made and much
interest now centers In the future
progress of the new corporation and It's
wonderful product.