CIRCULAR. 



The foliowiug circular was addressed to various railroad companies 

 and manag-ers in Europe and other countries. 



Metal Trade for Bailroads. 



The iuformatiou outlined below is desired for the purpose of a report to the U. S. 

 Department of Agriculture on the use of metal ties (sleepers) for railroad tracks, and 

 it is requested as a favor that all information furnished should he as complete as 

 possible and sent at the earliest possible convenience. 

 Eespectfully, 



E. E. Russell TraTxAi^^x, C. E., 

 144 Bemsen street, Broolxlyn, Nexii TorTx, U. S. America. 



INFORMATION. 



Railroad: 



1 . Name. 



2. Route. 



3. Length of lines laid with metal 



sleepers. 



4. Character of same. (Particulars 



of grades, curves, etc.) 



5. Dates when laid. 



6. Eugincer in charge. 



7. Character of trafiic. 

 Weight of locomotives and weigbt 



on driviuo- wheels. 



8, 



Sleeper : 



9. Longitudinal, transverse,or howl. 

 10. General form. 

 IL Dimensions, including thickness. 



(Figured drawings.) 

 1-3. Weight. 

 lo. Material. 



14. Spacing center to center. 



15. How treated. (Paint, anti-rust 



process, etc.) 

 It). Manufacturer. 



17. First cost, at factory or delivered. 



18. Expense of maintenance. 



19. Attachmeutof rails. (Detailsand 



drawings.) 



20. Arrangements for curves. 

 10 



Sleeper — Continued . 



21. Tie-rods; if used, how attached 



aud adjusted for gauge. 



22. Durability. 

 Track : 



23. Material of ballast. 



24. Behavior of ballast nnder sleeper, 

 2"). Construction of road-hed. (Draw- 

 ing.) 



2G. Section and weight of rail. 



27. Rail joints; how made. 



28. Rail joints; on sleeper or sus- 



X)ended. 

 29. Reasons for adopting metal sleepers. 



30. 



31. 



32. 

 33. 



34. 



35. 



3: 



General results : satisfactory or other- 

 wise. 



Is there trouble with maintenance of 

 track ? 



Is there trouble with rail attachments? 



Is there trouble from breakages ; how 

 aud Avhere do they usually occuv? 



Efficiency, etc., as compared with 

 wooden sleepers. 



Cost, material, and durability of 

 wooden sleepers. 



Climate; and cttect of same on metal 

 or wooden sleepers. 



General remarks. 



38. Opinions. 



