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" The blue print which I inclose represents the latest improvements in steel sleepers 
suggested by experience on railways in India, where millions of them are employed, 
and I think that the tie in question leaves little to be desired either in general form ; 
simplicity of fastenings, weight, or price. 
" You will observe that the metal is thickened where strength is most required, and 
that the rail clips are formed from the solid plate, the rail being kept in place by a 
simple steel key which can be driven either on the inside or outside of the rail wben 
increased width of gauge is required ou sharp curves. 
"You ask me to state the advantages and disadvantages experienced by us in the use 
of this class of sleeper. 
" So far we have no disadvantages to record, but many and very important advan- 
tages, which are as follows : 
" (1) No spikes are required. 
u (2) The rails are kept to gauge with almost mathematical accuracy and the result 
is that the oscillation of a train running at high speed over this track is reduced to a 
minimum, and is very marked when it runs on to a length laid with ordinary timber 
sleepers. 
" (3) The difference in the cost of maintenance is enormous, because a track once 
properly laid with these steel ties and well ballasted requires no permanent road 
gangs and can be maintained in good order by a traveling gang going over it once 
or twice a year. 
ci This is our experience here, but it must be remembered that on this railway we 
have no frost or snow to contend with and very light traffic. 
;< In the United States these conditions would of course be altered, but I see no good 
reason why these ties should not bear frost well ; they are extensively used in Germany 
and I am not aware that frost has proved an objection to their use. 
"From personal experience I cannot say how metallic ties behave in cases where 
trains run off the line, as we very seldom on this line have such accidents, and have 
had none on the portions of track laid with them. 
"In India the experience is that in a bad run-off a great number of ties are bent and 
injured, but that very few are so badly damaged as to be j>ast repairs, and that, as a 
general rule, they are repaired in the shops and replaced in the line. 
"I must add, however, that metallic sleepers require a very solid and perfect road- 
bed, and a much larger quantity of ballast than timber ties. 
"The Mexican Railway is laid throughout with 62-pound steel rails, except on tbe 
Cumber 4-per-cent. incline, where we are now laying down 82-pound rails. 
" Our metal ties are laid under the 62-pound rails, the number being 2,000 per mile 
but we find that this number is not necessary, and in future we propose to lay onlj 
1,850 per mile. 
" I may say in conclusion, that in my opinion the steel tie is the tie of the future, and 
that our experience here points with their use to substantial economies in repairs and 
maintenance and at the same time to a very peifsct track." 
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS. 
From the experience so far accumulated it is claimed that the re- 
quirements of a good tie can be fulfilled by the steel ties now made, 
namely : 
(1) Appropriate form. 
(2) A section with sufficient moment of resistance, 
(o) A material not easily fractured, 
(4) Sufficient bearing area and leugtk to resist lateral, longitudinal, 
and vertical strains. 
