UNIFICATION OF METHODS IN TESTING MATERIALS. _XLIX. 
author used Tetmaier’s formula thus, the moment of resistance 
calculated in the usual way was found to be— 
For the 45 ths, rail maT a+ of a T f= 3:96, 
For the 58 tbs. rail “= for = 6°86 f 
The spans for each rail were 67 and 334 inches. 
At the elastic limit where f = 19°35 tons per square inch 
We = SE 8 S88 x TOSO XS — 4°56 tons for the 45 Ibs. rail 
and w = £86 a x4 .. 7-99 tons for the BS the: rail, 
For the 33} inches span the results were proportional. The rails 
were carefully loaded and the deflections measured until the elastic 
limits were reached in each case, which occurred with loads of 4:5 
and 5 tons for the 45 and 58 tbs. rail respectively. Hence the 
58 Ibs. rail was considered to be too soft. Pieces cut from the 
heads and flanges and tested in tension, as well as the results 
obtained by testing the rails under the drop hammer, confirmed 
the bending tests. There was no doubt that physical tests could 
be thoroughly relied upon to give reliable data as to the quality 
of all construction materials, provided that the testing was properly 
conducted and suitable tests were chosen. 
The question raised by Mr. Deane did not however, apply to: 
the reliability of physical tests in the determination of the quality 
of any material, but rather how this was governed by the chemical - 
composition, and as to the most reliable method which an engineer 
Should adopt in ordering a quantity of rails in order to ensure 
that the quality should be suitable for the purpose. The chemical 
composition governed the quality of the material as delivered to. 
the rolling mills from the furnaces in the shape of ingots or blooms. 
The reheating of the blooms, and the design of the rolling mills. 
influenced the resulting product ; it was desirable also that the 
rail should be finished at as uniform a temperature as possible- 
throughout its length, and that the metal should be practically 
uniform in quality. No doubt these requirements were fully- 
4—June 16, 1897, 
