6'2 
Iii the tests of the Hemlock tie the spikes were driven tangentially 
to the layers of wood, and at the start the adhesion ranged from 3,280 
to 3,690 pounds, but when drawn one-fourth of an inch decreased nearly 
one-half. The fibers were too much injured to cover and press the spike 
firmly. Boring holes increased the resistance, as shown when the spike 
was drawn out to various lengths, the fibers not being injured so much. 
NOTE ON ADHESION OF SPIKES. 
By B. E. Fernow. 
More extensive experiments on the adhesion of spikes were recently 
published in the "Organ fur das gesammte Eiseubahnwesen." The 
writer comes to the conclusion that by boring holes for the spikes not 
only is there effected a saving of probably 50 per cent, in spikes, but also 
a large saving in ties, especially in oak ties, in which, by driving the 
spikes, the tendency to check is aggravated more than in pine. As set 
forth in the above report, spiking breaks down the fibers around the 
spikes, thus inducing earlier decay and at the very places where most 
resistance is required; and frequent respiking wears out the tie me- 
chanically sooner than in any other way; the bending, too, of the 
spikes when driven, increases these evils. Unless such mechanical wear 
is counteracted, it becomes doubtful whether impregnating ties can be 
considered the right economy. 
In these experiments 170 ties, laid down as they came, were bored 
on one rail-side, and not on the other ; the driving of spikes was then 
done as in practice. After having started the spike (with a regular 
spike-puller) to 1 inch, a grapple connected with a balance was attached 
to the rail and weights added to the balance until the rails suddenly gave 
way; the grapple drawing perpendicularly, and all other forces being 
ingeniously counterbalanced, the adhesion alone was determined. 
Boring-bits of different sizes were used, and the holes were made 4 
and 5 inches deep. The conclusions arrived at are recorded as follows ; 
(1) Adhesion differs greatly in ties of the same kind, as well as in the 
same tie, 
(2) Even the four spikes in each tie show considerable difference of 
adhesion. 
(3) Adhesion is sometimes greater with the inner, sometimes with 
the outer spikes; sometimes when holes are bored, sometimes when 
not; sometimes in holes of a larger, sometimes in those of a smaller 
diameter. 
From all of which it appears that generalization on a small number 
of experiments cau be done only with caution. Not only the boring, 
but also the quality and kind of tie, the seasoning, the temperature and 
