17 



100 tons. The locomotive employed is a six-wheeled enfrine of English build. The 

 country passed through is believed to be the softest in wet weather to be found in 

 Australia, but so far no trouble has been experienced with the line. The country is 

 infested with white ants (termites), and ties of the best hard woods of the colony 

 will not last more than 3 years in the form of ties. The government now in po\\'er 

 are not very favorable to my system, but I hope to be able to induce them to complete 

 the Croydon Eailway on my system. I believe my system might be applied with 

 advantage to your jirairie country subject to heavy rain-falls. 



Neic South Wales. — About 1,000 steel cross-ties were laid in 1882. In 

 1887 it was reported that they were iu bad condition, but this may have 

 been due (if correct) to the fact that the manufacture of steel ties was 

 in its infancy in 1882. 



(South Australia. — In March, 1888, the agent-general in England re- 

 ported to me that metal sleepers were being laid on a new line 115 miles 

 long, not then open to traffic, 



SOUTH AMERICA. 



Argentine Republic. — In this State, cast-iron ^'poc^^ sleepers are used 

 almost exclusively, except in the far west and north. The Buenos 

 Ayres Great Southern Railway, which began operations in 18G5, has 

 133 niik^s of double track and 819^ miles of single track laid with cast- 

 iron sleepers of an improved design. They are adopted on account of 

 the (liOiculty of procuriug good hard- wood ties in sufficient quantity 

 >iiid the greater expense of these wooden ties 5 also because they give 

 a more rigid and satisfactory track. The Central Argentine Eailway 

 lias 246 miles laid with cast-iron track. The Santa Fe and Cordoba 

 Kailway ordered 20,000 steel ties in England in 1888. 



CVii^i— Steel ties have been tried to a small extent, but the type was 

 considered too heavy and expensive. Previous to the award in No- 

 vember last, to an American syndicate, of the contract for building about 

 780 miles of railways for the State, proposals had been invited by the 

 Chilian legation in France for the supply of 739,400 metal ties 9 feet 

 long and 725,100 ties 4J feet long. 



United States of Golomlna. — There has been some talk of adopting 

 metal ties on the Bolivar Eailway. 



MEXICO. 



The Mexican Eailway (Vera Cruz line) is using a large number of 

 steel ties of the type in general use in India, and has obtained very 

 good results with them, especially at times when the road has been 

 flooded. These ties were first used in 1884, and at the end of June. 

 1888, there were 46^ miles of track laid with steel ties. The Mexican 

 Central Eailway has been contemplating the adoption of the same typo 

 of tie on the mountain division of the road, the advantages being that 

 they last longer than wooden ties and keep the track in perfect gauge. 



The above report is respectfully submitted for consideration. 



E. E. EussELL Tratman, 



February I, 1889. Jiui. Am. Sac. C. U, 



18689~»Bull. 3 2 



