110 
cross-tie plan. The longitudinal ties, which were at first thought to be 
the only possible form, are abandoned gradually for cross-ties. Statis- 
tics as to the use of metal cross-ties on the Continent in 1885 were 
given before the Eailroad Congress at Brussels as follows : 
Com- 
panies. 
Miles laid 
with metal. 
Total 
length of 
roads. 
Holland 
Switzerland 
9 
4 
4 
1, 806 
181 
49 
14, 754 
2, 053 
1,530 
17 
*2, 036 
18,337 
*11 per cent. 
One of the Swiss companies — the North Eastern Eailway of Switzer- 
land — has definitely adopted metal cross-ties for all new roads and the 
renewal of old ones. 
In England the drain which the Indian railways made in the tie mar- 
ket induced experiments with steel ties in 1884. Twenty steel ties 
(Yautherin pattern), ninety pounds per tie, with rail of ninety-five 
pounds^ bull-headed form, lying in two half chairs, were laid. Creo- 
soted paper was placed underneath the ties to deaden the sound. To- 
day millions of metal ties are used in India. 
The Mexican Eailway (Vera Cruz), after an experiment of two years 
with twenty thousand steel ties on level ground and on heavy grades, 
has proposed to put in yearly hereafter from forty to fifty thousand. 
The change from the wooden to the steel tie is made entirely in the 
interest of economy, and it is calculated that in a few years the per- 
manent section-gang on the road can be replaced by traveling gangs, 
who will be able to keep the road in order, the number of men em- 
ployed under the new system being only 50 per cent, of those embraced 
in the present permanent section system. 
No better testimony to the efficiency of the metal tie under proper 
condition could be given than the following extracts from a letter in 
reply to a request for information from George Foot, Esq., Superin- 
tendent of the Mexican Eailway, stating his experience. 
" Our experience with, these ties, of which some 30,000 have been in the line since 
September, 1884, is so satisfactory in every respect, that we are now about to lay down 
40,000 more, and our intention is to gradually relay the entire liue with metallic 
sleepers. 
" I inclose a blue print*, showing the type of tie we are about to lay dowu, one which 
is about the same as that employed on the State railways of India for both the 5.6- 
nieter gauges, but arranged for our gauge, which is 4' 8%". 
" The price of the new ties under contract in England is 4s. 4d. ($1.05) each, includ- 
ing steel keys f. o. b. in Cardiff, and their weight with keys 112 lbs. each. 
u The metallic ties in use here for the last two years are almost of the same pattern 
as shown on the drawing, excepting the fastenings, which are much more complicated 
and expensive. 
* See Plate No. I, p. III. 
