AWAEDS OF PEEMIUMS. 53 



spection, we select two, sliowing in what estimation their Eail- 

 road scales are held by those who use them. 



" The Superintendent of the Eichmond wharves, at the ter- 

 minus of the Eeading Eailroad, near Philadelphia, says in 

 March 1852, that 'there have been in constant use on those 

 wharves, for more than six years, twenty-six of Fairbank's ten 

 ton Track Scales, on which has been weighed all the immense 

 tonnage which has passed over the road during that time — 

 amounting in the aggregate to about eight million tons ; and 

 that notwithstanding this severe test, the Scales have always 

 kept their adjustment without any expense for repairs, and are 

 now apparently as perfect and as sensitive in their operation as 

 when first built.' Under date of March 22d, 1853, the Engineer 

 of the Port Carbon Eailroad writes, that ' there has been in daily 

 use on that road, for the last eight years, one of Fairbank's Track 

 Scales, 8-i feet in length, on which has been weighed with accu- 

 racy during that time more than three million two hundred 

 thousand tons of coal; and that he now finds that all its levers 

 and bearings are in excellent condition.' " 



Among their recent inventions for the benefit of Railroads is 

 the Suspension Track Scale. It is designed to obviate difficul- 

 ties arising from surface water or high tides, which cannot always 

 be excluded from the vaults of scales built in the ordinary way. 

 In this modification, all the bearings and other parts of the scale, 

 which are liable to be injured by exposure to the action of water, 

 are located in a chamber above the platform, while the beam 

 and all other parts to which it is necessary to have access, occu- 

 py their usual places. One of these scales has been built for the 

 Chicago and Galena Eailroad, in their freight depot in Chicago, 

 and gives entire satisfaction to all who have to do with it. 



The "Weigh Lock Scales, manufactured by this Company, de- 

 serve especial mention. They are designed for weighing loaded 

 canal boats, and have the enormous capacity of 1,000,000 pounds. 

 The weight in this modification is indicated by a beam, and is 

 ascertained at once, as soon as the boat is placed in the lock 

 and the water removed. Notwithstanding their very great 

 capacity they weigh small quantities just as accurately as the 



