26 



Ninth. The selling price of old metal ties is considerably higher than 

 the price of old timber ties. 



Tenth. A calculation* of the total annual sum required for purchase, 

 laying, maintaining, and renewing tracks on timber and on metal ties 

 gave a favorable result for the metal, t 



All these considerations induced the company to charge the writer 

 in 1880 to study, both at home and abroad, the difterent systems of 

 metal ties then in use, both from the point of view of manufacture and 

 of maintenance, and to propose a method of trial enabling the company 

 to get the most complete information possible on the subject. 



This charge resulted in the following different systems of ties and 

 fastenings being laid in the track from 1880 to 1888 : 



rounds. 



Typo I, Vaiitberin sectiou ; iron .* 88 



Type II, Vautheria section ; iron 103. 84 



Type III, Haarmaim section; mild steel 110 



Type IV, Haarinauu section; mild steel. 114. 4 



Type V, Haarmauu-Liclitliammer section; mild steel aS. 48 



Tiea. 



In 1881, type 1 4,133 



In 1882, type II 4, 001 



In 1883, type III 2,089 



In 1883, type IV 2,090 



In 1884, type V 11,680 



And from 1885 to 1888, about 120,000 ties, types VI, Yll, Vlll and IX, 

 making about 150,000 ties often different types (including Cosijns). Of 

 each ot the t^^pes, trial lengths, under different circumstances of grades 

 and curves, were ])ut under special observation, every hour of mainte- 

 nance work and every renewed piece being scrupulously noted. As a 

 base of comparison 1,120 first rate new oak ties were laid in the track, 

 the rails being fastened with the ordinary spikes The plate shows the 

 different types of ties used. 



At the same time different systems of fastenings were tried on tLio 

 metal ties. 



By trying the best improvements in shape, material, and manufacture, 

 and by eliminating every year the faults of the preceding types, Mr. 

 Post gradually arrived at types of ties and fastenings which, having 

 shown great advantage in every respect over the preceding types, have 

 now been adopted as standards for this railroad.j: (Types YIII and IX.) 



* For methods of calculation see Bulletin I of Forestry Division ; also the valuable 

 report of the American Society of Civil Eugineers, June, 1885, on the "Preservation 

 of Forests." 



t Many important improvements introduced since have increased the advantage of 

 metal over timber. 



t Other railroads have, to their great satisfaction, followed tbis example. A total 

 of about 437,300 ties (about 23,800 tons) of the Post types VI, VII, VIII, and IX is 

 now in service on different lines of Holland, Belgium, France, Germany, Switzerland, 



