MECHANICS AND USEFUL ARTS. 57 



of four, now required, according- to the old method. Mr. Reed's block chair of 

 cast iron spreads so as to occupy a resisting surface of 462 inches superficial, 

 being 22 inches long by 21 inches in breadth, f in. in thickness, and turned 

 up with a margin f in. high. The boss which carries the chair is hollow ; 

 the sides and brackets are f in. thick; the 21 -inch bearing is inch thick. 

 The weight of the joint chairs is 1 cwt. 1 qr. 7 Ibs. each, and that of the inter- 

 mediate chairs 1 cwt. qr. 26 Ibs. The weight and size, however, can 'be 

 modified according to circumstances. This system requires neither spikes, 

 tie-bars, wood pins, nor screw bolts. The permanent way may be made even 

 of sand in the absence of ballast, and the chairs, once imbedded, will continue 

 firm and undisturbed in wet weather, or during frost or thaw. By a judicious 

 arrangement of the permanent way, and the formation of a bed of sand below 

 the sleeper, all rigidity is removed, and a smoothness of transit is afforded for 

 the trains, which very considerably tends to the diminution of the tear and 

 wear of the rolling stock. Tune has tested the value of this mode of construc- 

 tion, it having been extensively used in the north of England. Timber laid 

 lines require re-laying almost periodically, and although the cost of the iron 

 chair in the first instance may be greater than wood, on the ground of dura- 

 bility, the advantage in the long run is with the iron sleeper. London Mining 

 Journal. 



New Girder Bail. A new girder rail lias been invented by Mr. "W. B. 

 Adams, of London. It is similar to the ordinary one, but two inches deeper, 

 being seven instead of five inches. There is a flange at the top and bottom, 

 and on each side angle brackets, one side of which fills up the space between 

 the flanges, secured to the rail by bolts, the other extends outwards, forming 

 a sort of longitudinal shelf at each side, level with the ballast, so that when 

 packed, all that is seen is two and a half inches rising above the brack- 

 ets. These form a secure bearing of thirteen inches wide. The ballast is 

 packed from each side, and thus secures the permanent way. The gauge 

 is kept correct by the rods, about nine feet apart, no wooden sleepers are 

 employed, and the entire rails and appendages, consisting of rails, brackets, 

 bolts, and tie-bars, are of wrought iron the whole, when complete, forming- 

 one compact mass. This rail is expensive at first, but is said to be the cheap- 

 est in the end, enduring longer and requiring less repairs. 



Cast Iron Sleepers for Railways. An improved cast iron sleeper, the inven- 

 tion of a Mr. H. Greaves, of England, has been applied with success of late 

 on many of the English and continental railways. The form of the sleepers 

 is semi-spherical, which thus admits of the smallest amount of metal for a 

 given strength. Those intended to receive the tie-bars are cast with an 

 opening through them, and the ties have but to be keyed to secure the rails 

 firmly at the proper distance apart. These sleepers, by this method of tying 

 them, are suitable for any gauge, and allow of the rails being laid with 

 remarkable facility. The chairs to receive the rails are so formed as to allow 

 of the removal of a defective or worn out rail, without disturbing the sleeper. 

 The oscillation of rails causes the wear and tear of locomotives and cars, but 

 these sleepers are stated to preserve the rails perfectly firm, and as not being 

 liable to spring like wooden ones. As these sleepers have a broad base, they 



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