900 Transactions of the American Institute. 



a train standing still costs the company as niucli as if it was run- 

 ning. 



From a calculation he had made, he found that twice the time is 

 lost on the New York Central, on the entire trip of a train than 

 inig-ht be. Freight trains are run, in theory, twelve miles an hour, 

 but in practice, from fifteen to sixteen miles ; and as the cost of run- 

 ning a train is in proportion to its speed, so if we should run our 

 freight trains at six miles an hour, we should certainly reduc* the 

 cost one-half. The wear upon the railway track is from one to two 

 . thousand dollars per mile per year ; that is, the hammering of the car 

 wheels on the track wears it out. Now this injury done to the track 

 depends upon the speed ; so if the rate of running is reduced one- 

 half, the number of blows struck upon the track will be but one-half. 

 Again, action and reaction are alike ; blows are also struck back at 

 the wheels, which are injurious ; and knowing this, we build our cars 

 very strong, and therefore carry three times as much weight as we 

 should. These facts are becoming so evident there is no doubt 

 but in a short time railroads will be constructed to carry our goods at 

 a much less cost than now. 



Improved "Wheel foe Kailwats. 



Mr. John Eaddin, of Lynn, Mass., exhibited models of his elastic 

 and adjustable carriage and car wheel. He also exhibited a model of 

 a locomotive wheel on this plan. The novelty consists in inserting 

 hard rubber in portions of the wheel, between the journal and the 

 rim, in such a manner that it will receive the concussions, yet will 

 .not be driven from its position. 



The plan was subjected to considerable criticism. Several speakers 

 thought a durable wheel could not be made in this manner. It was, 

 hewever, deemed best to await the verdict of numerous engineers 

 who, it was said, would subject the wheel to requisite tests. 



Adjourned. 



December 24th, 1868. 



Professor S. D. Tillman in the chair ; Mr. C. E. Emery, Secretary, 

 New Yentilatok. 

 Mr. N. Parrish, of Kalamazoo, Michigan, exhibited a model of his 

 ventilator for heating and cooling buildings. It is called the Pendu- 

 lum F-an Yentilator. The air is admitted at the bottom and passed 



