894 REPORT—1896. 
very great, more so than in other countries, and this points to severe shocks, heavy 
wear and tear of rails and tyres, and—especially when two heavy locomotives are 
run with the same train—liability to fracture. Whilst the tendency in this 
country, and in the United States, has been to gradually increase the weight of 
rails from 40 lb. up to 100]b. per lineal yard, there are engineers who think that 
to decrease the rigidity of rail and fishplate, and weight of chair, and to increase the 
sleepers, so as to arrive as nearly as possible at a continuous bearing, would result 
in softness and smoothness of running. 
The average and maximum speeds now attained by express trains would appear 
to have reached the limit of safety, at any rate under the existing conditions of 
junctions, cross-over roads, and other interferences with the continuity of the rail. 
If higher speeds are to be sought, it would seem to be necessary to have isolated 
trunk lines, specially arranged in all their details, free from sharp curve and severe 
gradient, and probably worked electrically, although a speed of 100 miles per hour 
is claimed to have been reached by a steam locomotive in the United States. 
The grain trade of the port of Liverpool has assumed very large proportions, 
and the system of storage in large silos has been adopted, with great advantage, 
both as regards capital, outlay, and the cost of working, per ton of grain. 
The Liverpool Grain Storage Warehouses at Bootle will be open to Members 
of the Association, and there can be seen the latest development of the mechanical 
unloading, storing and distribution of grain in bulk ; the capacity is large, being :— 
Warehouse No. 1, 56,000 tons 
- », 2,80,000 _,, ho 4,240,000 bushels, 
Quay Stores 20,000 ,, 
thus constituting this granary as one of the largest, if not the largest, in the 
world. . 
The question of the pressure of grain is a very difficult one, and, in constructing 
the brick silos, which are 12 feet across at the top, by nearly 80 feet in depth, large 
allowance has been made both for ordinary pressure, and for possible swelling of 
the grain. 
The grain is unloaded by elevators, and then transported on bands, the result 
being its cooling and cleansing, as well as its storage and distribution. 
The question of the early adoption in England of the metric system is of im- 
portance not only to the engineering profession, but also to the country at large. 
The recommendation of the recent Royal Commission, appointed for the consideration 
of the subject, was, that it should be taught at once in all schools, and that, in two 
years’ time, its adoption should be compulsory ; but it is much to be regretted that, 
up to the present time, nothing has been done. 
The slight and temporary inconvenience of having to learn the system is of no 
moment compared to the great assistance it would prove to the commercial and 
trading world; the simplification of calculations and of accounts would be hailed 
with delight by all so soon as they realised the advantages. England is suffering 
greatly in her trade with the Continent for want of it. 
Our foreign customers, who have now used it for many years, will not tolerate 
the inconvenience of the endless variety of weights and measures in use in 
England, and they consequently purchase their goods, to a great extent, from 
Germany, rather than use our antiquated English system. It is no exaggeration to 
say that, with their knowledge of the metric system, they regard ours as completely 
obsolete and unworkable, just in the same way as we should were we to buy our 
corn, our wine, our steel and iron, by the hin, the ephah, or the homer, or to 
compute cur measurements by cubit, stadium, or parasang. 
It behoves all who desire to see England regain her trade to use all their 
influence in favour of the adoption of this system, as its absence is, doubtless, one 
of the contributory causes for the loss that has taken, and is taking, place. 
An important argument in favour of the metric system of weights and measures 
is that it is adopted all over the civilised world by physicists and chemists; and it 
may be stated with confidence, that the present international character of these 
sciences is largely due to this. 
