58 
ally driven, and great care was taken not to disturb them in removing 
the ties from the track. This gave an opportunity of seeing whether 
the adhesion increased or decreased by age of service. 
After the spikes were drawn the ties were cut into blocks and split, 
exposing the spike so as to show the injury to the wood-fibers, which is 
very marked in all cases. A blunt or poorly -pointed spike driven into 
the White Cedar broke the wood down in masses, so as to reduce the 
adhesion of the spike from 40 to 50 per cent, from that obtained with a 
sharp-pointed spike ; the latter did not break down bat cut through the 
fibers. In most woods driving the spike checks the fibers for some dis- 
tance on either side of the spike. In oak the adhesion was increased 
40 to 50 per cent, by boring a J-inch hole for a T 9 r inch square spike. 
The experiments show conclusively that the same kind of spike is not 
the most suitable for all woods. 
Table VI. — Adhesion of Sj) ikes in Ties. 
[Chestnut tie in service two years and three months under 72-pound rail 4^ inches high. J 
5. 50 
5. 50 
5. 50 
5. 50 
4. 50 
4. 80 
4. 40 
4.60 
5. 00 
4. 00 
Tension in pounds on spike. 
1, 496 
3,166 
3, 118 
3, 572 
1, 185 
2,716 
2, 200 
2, 305 
1,700 
2, 960 
1, 924 
954 
2, 305 
2, 000 
2, 036 
2, 548 
1, 550 
630 1 -.. 
814 1, 072 
720 
1,560 
1, 100 
1, 140 
Remarks. 
! [ Spike drawn in track and 
I redriven in same hole. 
j Spike as driven by railroad 
company when' tie was 
put in track. 
2sew Boston and Albany 
Railroad spike, good 
point, driven into solid 
wood. 
New New York Central 
and Hudson River Rail- 
road spike driven into 
solid wood. 
Spike as driven by railroad 
company, corroded and 
bent; broko out piece of 
wood in drawing. 
Old spike redriven in old 
hole. 
[Chestnut tie in service four years and three months ; cut under rail. J 
5. 50 
5. 50 
I. 4(i 
4. 40 
5. 70 4. 80 
5. 30 
2, 794 
2, 265 
3, 200 
2, 280 
1,700 
1,706 
2, 548 
1, 030 
| in. 
1, 430 
1, 240 
2, 390 
1, 020 
1, 280 
950 
Spike as driven by railroad 
company; wood under 
rail brittle and soft four 
to five layers down. 
Spike driven into wood un- 
der rail two hours before 
test; fermentation com- 
menced under fourth 
layer of wood. 
Spike driven into sound 
wood. 
Spike as driven by railroad 
company ; corroded, scales 
separate, and remain in 
wood. 
