RAILWAY CONSTRUCTION. 73 



to supply such grass or vegetation as may spring up, or be self- 

 sown. 



The fencing in of a Hue of railway serves the double purpose 

 of defining the boundary of the company's property, and of 

 forming a barrier for the prevention of trespass of persons and 

 animals on to the line. For our home lines, fencing is com- 

 pulsory, and the same obligation exists on many foreign railways. 

 In our colonies, and out in the far West of the United States, 

 and in newly opened out countries, fencing, except near towns 

 and villages, is rather the exception than the rule ; people and 

 animals roam at will from one side of the railway to the other 

 wherever they find a convenient crossing place, and the cow- 

 catcher of the engine has to be depended upon for throwing 

 aside any animal which may be standing, or resting, on the line 

 of rails at the passing of a train. 



The description of fence will be influenced by the locality, 

 and the materials conveniently obtainable. Where stone is 

 plentiful, perhaps brought forward out of the cuttings, and 

 labour cheap, a masonry wall will be found a most suitable 

 permanent fence. Any fence to be of service should not be less 

 than four feet high. A wooden post and rail fence is much in 

 favour in some districts, the posts being firmly set or driven into 

 the ground, and four or five stout bars nailed on to, or set into, 

 the upright posts. This fencing does not last very long, the 

 pieces are small in size, and soon fail from decay. Quick or 

 hawthorn hedges, when fully grown, make a good fence, but 

 require careful attention to prevent gaps being made by roving 

 cattle. They also require constant trimming and cutting. The 

 quicks are generally planted in a mound formed by cutting a 

 continuous ditch, or gripe, as shown in Fig. 65. The ditch 

 serves as a drain to take away water running down the slopes 

 of the embankments, small openings in the mounds, or drain 

 pipes through them, forming leaders to conduct the water to the 

 ditch or gripe. The outer edge of the ditch represents the 

 boundary of the railway property, unless specially arranged 

 otherwise. 



Galvanized iron-steel wire fencing, if not made too light, is 

 strong and durable, and very easily kept in order. 



The wires may be secured to strong wooden posts, which 

 should be creosoted, and not placed too far apart, or to iron posts or 

 standards of angle iron or tee-iron section. The straining-posts, 



