DEVELOPMENT OP THE AMERICAN RAIL AND TRACK. 



705 



Several types of join*: fixtures designed to support the base of the 

 rail have oeeu designed from time to time. Fig. 130 shows a joint of 

 this type which was in use on a western railroad in 18G9. Fig. 131 

 illustrates the Fisher and Norris joint as improved by Mr. Clark Fisher 

 in 1888, in which the base of the rail is made to take much of the strain 

 at the joint. 



Fig. 130. 

 Joint Fixture used on Western Railroads, 1869. 



(From original in the LI. S. National Museum.] 



Fig. i:il. 

 Fisiiek Si Nokris Joint Fixture as improved by Clark Fisher, 1888. 



(From a ilrawinc in the U. S. National Must-urn.) 



PRIMITIVE PROGS. 



Mr. Isaac Dripps, who in 1831 erected the locomotive John Bull at 

 Bordentown, New Jersey (all of the parts of the engine having been 

 made by Stephenson ct Co., New Castle on-Tyne, England), has furnished 

 the information for Fig. 132, which illustrates the manner in which a 

 large jQ. shaped staple was made to take the place of a frog at the 

 point where the "turn in" track branched off from the main line at the 

 engine-house at Bordentown. 

 H. Mis. 224, pt. 2 -45 



