34 FOREST UTILIZATION 



drivers ; r stands for minimum weight 

 of rail in pounds. 



Estimates of cost of track, exclusive of 

 rolling stock and bridge arrangements, 

 vary from $1,300 to $4,300 per mile for 

 easy grading. One-half of the expense 

 in this case is for rails, spikes and splice 

 joints (fish plates). 



The grading and laying of track costs from $300 

 to $i,coo per mile for easy grading; and cross 

 ties cost about as much. 

 Estimate of cost per mile for 



I. Sixteen-pound steel rail, requiring 



25 tons of rail @ $32 per ton.$ 800.00 

 1,780 pounds of 3*/2X-><5 in. spikes 



at 2c per pound 35-6o 



357 splice joints at 2oc 71.40 



2,640 cross ties at isc. .' 396.00 



Grading and track laying 500.00 



Total $1,803.00 



4O-pound steel rail, requiring 63 



tons of rail at $30 per ton $1,890.00 



4,690 pounds of 4x^ in. spikes at 



2c a pound 93-8o 



357 splice joints at 4oc each 142.80 



2,640 cross ties at 25c each 66o.co 



Grading and laying track 1,000.00 



Total $3,786.60 



(d) Cars. 



Cars consisting of two trucks, of 'two axles each, 

 form the rule. 



The trucks should be -very low and should have 

 short distance between axles where curves 

 are heavy. For narrow gauge tracks, special 

 trucks are constructed costing from $50 to $80. 

 While steel trucks are more satisfactory in the 

 old country, in America trucks with wooden 

 framing and wooden bolsters are usually pre- 

 ferred, owing to greater ease of repair far from 

 factory. 



The bearings are frequently outside as well as 

 inside the wheels, so as to have the frame sup- 

 ported at eight instead of at four points of 

 the two axles. The bolsters, swiveled on the 

 frame, are very frequently much longer 

 (wider) than the axles. 



