THE TECHNOLOGIST. [March 1, 1865. 



340 WOOD FOR RAILWAY SLEEPERS. 



Mr. Sanders, in reply, expressed his confident belief that there was 

 nothing in the facts as now known with respect to the Wicklow district, 

 to discourage the mining company from continuing their operations. 

 He believed that the gold-bearing vein did exist somewhere at Crog- 

 hankinsella. A theory had been broached by some that thesgold of 

 Ireland had been transported here from other countries by icebergs at a 

 remote period. He did not believe in that theory. The largest Wicklow 

 nugget that ever came under his observation was one of 320 grains. The 

 fact was remarkable that all over the world deposits of gold, when 

 found, were associated with quartz rocks. 



WOOD FOR RAILWAY SLEEPERS. 



As lines of first-class and feeder railways gradually extend over India, 

 the question of the future supply of sleepers forces itself more and 

 more on our attention, and the durability and prime cost of wood, and 

 the possible timber supply from the forests of India, claim our most 

 serious consideration. 



For high speed railways, wood has so many advantages over iron, 

 whether cast or wrought, that it is scarcely likely that recourse will be 

 had to the latter material, when the former can be obtained in sufficient 

 quantity to meet the requirements, being at the same time of durable 

 kind and of not excessive cost. The wear and tear of the rolling stock 

 on a road laid on cast iron is a serious objection to any form of iron 

 sleeper, such, e.g., as Greaves' pots. These sleepers are, we believe, still 

 employed to some extent on the East India line as well as on that of 

 Madras, but much difficulty is found in so laying them as to preserve 

 them from unequal strains, and the consequent breakages render their 

 use by no means economical. 



On the Bombay and Baroda lines, Adams' No. 1 sleeper, consisting 

 of angle bars bolted longitudinally to the rails, were laid in the first 

 instance, but were found to bend under the great weight of the engines 

 employed on that line, and were, after a short trial, replaced by Adams' 

 No. 2 sleeper, which consists of two balks of timber similarly bolted to 

 each side of the rail by bolts beneath it. Here also, therefore, iron 

 has been rejected, on experience, in favour of wood. 



Assuming, then, that only in the case of failure of 6upply of wood 

 sleepers will those of iron be introduced to any great extent on the 

 Indian lines, we have to direct attention to the sources of the former, and 

 these we find are as follows : — 



Creosoted pine from England. 



Jarrah and other woods from Australia. 



Teak, ironwood, &c, from Burruah. 



