IMPROVEMENT IN RAIL ROADS. 341 



from the irregularity of driving the nails. I have no doubt 

 from my observation of yours, but that they will answer 

 extremely well, and prove less expensive. 



I am, Sir, 

 Your obedient Servant, 



J. LEWIS. 



S trade y Furnace , April 18, 1806. 



To Mr. le Caan. t 



Certificates were also received from Mr. R. Jones of Further res- 

 Swansea, agent to General Ward's colliery; from Mr. timomes - 

 James Barnes, who formed the Myther and Carmarthenshire 

 rail road ; and Mr. Edward Martin, of Morristen, an emi- 

 nent colliery, surveyor and planner of railroads, all tes- 

 tifying the advantage of Mr. le Caan's invention. 



Reference to the Engraving of Mr, Charles le Caan's im- 

 proved Tram-Plates for Rail-roads. PI X, Fig. I, 

 % 3, 4. 



The tram-plates, fig. 1 and 2, are fastened by means of Description of 



a tenon and mortise A B, each having a correspondent tne t tram-plates 

 _ . , ,-'.'. lL , and method of 



bevel, just sufficient to keep the end from rising up, so tnat^^^g raii 



the head of one plate confines the end of the other ; by roads. 

 this means, the workmen are obliged to form their road in 

 right lines, and maintain perfect levels, as the mortise and 

 tenon confines them to the required exactness necessary to 

 make a perfect road : curves or any given segment may be 

 formed with the same nicety, by having two bevel rails or 

 plates made for such purposes. 



Fig. 2, A side view or longitudinal section of the two 

 plates placed on their stone blocks or sleepers C D, shows 

 two plugs in dotted lines, one bevel, the other perpendicu- 

 lar, cast in the stop-rail or plate, which is so called as it 

 prevents the others from moving, and when taken up re- 

 leases all those between the stop-plates ; 25 yards of rail 

 road made with these plates, may be taken up and replaced 

 within ten minutes. The plugs in dotted lines are shown 

 in their proper positions within the sleepers E F G. 



The 



