MECHANICS AND USEFUL ARTS. 31 



built of steel) ; also the Philadelphia and Baltimore ; Camden and 

 Amboy line ; Lehigh Valley ; New York Central ; New York' and 

 New Haven ; Naugatuck ; Morris and Essex ; Cumberland Valley ; 

 South Carolina ; Chicago and North-western ; Chicago and Rock 

 Island ; Chicago and Alton ; Michigan Central ; Lake Shore line ; 

 Chicago, Burlington, and Quincy ; Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne, and 

 Chicago; also the Boston and Providence, Boston and Worcester, 

 Boston and Maine, Boston and Albany, Eastern, Connecticut 

 River, and other lines in New England. 



** The Wear of Steel Rails. — As no steel rails are reported 

 to have worn out on our roads, the comparative durability of 

 steel and iron cannot be absolutely determined. The president 

 of the Philadelphia and Baltimore Railway states (in the letter 

 before quoted) that the use of steel commenced in 1864, that the 

 rails (25 miles in all) were laid on the most trying parts of the 

 line ; that none have been taken up on account of breakage, wear, 

 or defect ; that upon the portion of the line near Philadelphia the 

 first steel rail imported had already worn out 16 iron rails ; 

 and that none of the steel rails have shown any imperfection, but 

 are all wearing smoothly and truly. 



*' On the Pennsylvania Railway, the report of the Chief -Engi- 

 neer for 1868 states that 11,494 tons of steel rails had been pur- 

 chased, and 9,656 tons laid. The first were laid in 1864. They 

 are all wearing smoothl}' , showing no change except the slight 

 diminution of section to be reasonably expected from the heavy 

 traffic. No steel rails have yet worn out. The report of the 

 superintendent (Feb., 1869) says: 'The use of steel rails con- 

 tinues with satisfactory results, and 4,544 tons of this material 

 have been laid since date of last report.' It is officially reported 

 that on the Camden and Amboy line some of the steel rails laid 

 3 years ago are now good in places where iron lasted but a few 

 months. 



'* The last report of the Engineer of the Lehigh Valley Railway 

 says : ' Another year's wear has made no perceptible impression 

 upon the 200 tons (of steel rails), the first of which was laid in 

 May, 1864, none of which has broken or given out since last 

 report. These rails have had a severe test, being in those places 

 in the track where they are subject to the greatest wear, laid with 

 a chair, which is much inferior to the most approved joint now in 

 use. There is no longer any possible doubt as to the superiority 

 of steel over iron in economy, as in every other respect.' 



♦• Unofficial reports from the Erie, Hudson River, and other 

 roads, show that the above statements represent the average 

 quality of steel rails. The last report of the New York and Nevv 

 Haven Railway states that * the subject of steel rails has received 

 special attention, and after a careful investigation of all the points 

 involved, it has been determined hereafter to make all renewals 

 of track with steel rails only ; 2,900 tons of Bessemer steel rails 

 have been contracted for on account of renewals for the present 

 year.' The report of the Morris and Essex Railway for 1868 

 says : * During the last year one track through the tunnel has been 

 reiaid with steel,' -rr also some 150 tons, of steel laid elsewhere. 



