1884.] TRANSACTIONS OF THE 19 



was §0.00 0701 — over double — while the increased cost of 

 transportation was over 1 mill per ton mile. 



Under heavy traffic the wear of the rails has been quite dif- 

 ferent from what was anticipated, after the experience with the 

 light steels, which were first used after the iron rails. The 

 wear of the heads had been so favorable and lasted so well, that 

 deeper heads were designed for subsequent sections. 



These have not given the same relative wear per ton as the 

 first sections, nor worn as smoothly, and are removed from the 

 track on account of roughness, before the loss of metal would 

 render them insecure. The light bases of rails have also shown so 

 much wear as to require removal on that account. 



The study of all these forms of wear, the possibilities of man- 

 ufacture, led me to the design of the 80-lb. rail for the N. Y. 

 C. & H. R. E..II., a section being before you. It has a very 

 shallow but broad head, made so in order to reduce the speed of 

 the vertical wear. By increasing the wearing surfaces, the rapid 

 reciprocal wear of the treads of the wheels will also be reduced. 



The distribution of the metal was carefully considered, and 

 put in position for wear and strength. It is much stiffer, nearly 

 25 per cent,, than the Metropolitan (of London) section, which 

 weighs 90 lbs. The maximimi width of the head is 2f inches ; 

 curves of upper corner, 5-16 of an inch, and radius of head, 

 12 inches. The actual wear of the rail in the track is over the 

 entire surface of the head when new, and not confined to the 

 center, as with heads of shorter radius. 



November 10th, 1884. 

 Stated Meeting. 

 The President, Dr. J. S. Newberry, in the chair. 

 One hundred persons present. 

 Prof. H. L. Fairchild read a paper on 



ELEPHANTS, ANCIENT AND MODERN, WITH REFERENCE ALSO TO THE EX- 

 TINCTION OF THE MAMMOTH ; AND NOTES ON THE SMALL ELEPHANTS 

 LATELY BROUGHT TO THIS CITY FROM FARTHER INDIA. 



(Illustrated with lantern views.) 



(Abstract.) 



Affi7iities of the Proboscidia. — The Proboscidia are allied to 

 the Ungulata, but are not strictly either Artiodactyla or Perisso- 



