TIES. 



The specifications for ties vary according to the company. 

 The Boston & Albany Railroad has three classes of 8-foot ties. 

 " First-class," if sawed on all four sides, must have 8 inches 

 face and 7 inches thickness ; if flattened on only two sides, they 

 must have at least 7 inches face. " Second-class " ties are 7 by 



7 inches squared, or with 6 to 7 inches face if flattened on two 

 sides. " Third-class " ties are 6 in'ches thick, with face of 8 

 inches if squared, or 6 inches and up if flattened. 



The "New York, New Haven & Hartford and the Boston & 

 Maine Railroads publish identical specifications. " No. 1 " ties, 

 if sawed square, are to have 7 inches thickness and 9 inches 

 face; if flattened, 7 to 12 inches face. " ~No. 2" ties are 6 

 inches thick, with 8-inch face if squared, or 6 to 12-inch face 

 if flattened. " No. 3 " are the same as " No. 2," with 1 inch 

 less face. The right is reserved to " limit the proportion of 

 No. 2 and No. 3 ties." 



The Central Vermont Railway takes two classes of ties, both 



8 feet long and 6 inches thick. " No. 1 " are 6 inches or over 

 on the face if flattened, and 8 to 9 inches if squared. "No. 2 " 

 have 5 inches face if flattened, and 6 to 8 inches if squared. 



Many of the electric railways use 8-foot ties 6 inches thick, 

 of which the first class have a face of 6 inches or over and the 

 second 5 inches or over if flattened, or corresponding widths if 

 sawed square. Some of the roads make a flat price for all ties, 

 accepting not more than 10 per cent of the total in second- 

 class. 



The Boston Elevated and the Middlesex & Boston use only 

 7-foot ties, in one class, which is 6 inches thick, by 8 inches 

 face if squared, or 6 to 9 inches if flattened. 



All the specifications call for ties cut from sound, living tim- 

 ber, and freed from bark. Some of the companies demand 

 winter-cut ties. 



The published prices are as follows : 



