1836.] 



in the Vaddavaur District. 



347 



The cast iron rails were five feet in length ; they were of two kinds, 

 of which the following are plans and sections : 



N*2. 



<Sec£io->i- tAtcrtu. &. 



7im 



is 



By experiments which these rails afforded, No. 1, a fish-bellied rail, 

 weighing 35| lbs., broke on the application of one thousand two hun- 

 dred and seventy-four lbs. Its deflection, immediately before breaking, 

 was three-eighths of an inch. No. 2, a parallel rail, beaded at the bottom, 

 and weighing 37| lbs. broke with one thousand eight hundred and forty- 

 eight lbs. and bore a deflection of five-eighth cf an inch. The difference 

 of resisting power in each of these, as compared with the respective 

 weights of composing material, will not fail to be at once perceived ; 

 this material was chiefly a mixture of Indian and English iron, cast in 

 the foundery at Porto Novo, and sold at the rate of one hundred 

 rupees per ton, including carriage. 



The weight of a cart, of the nature made use of, bearing a full load, 

 was one thousand five hundred and sixty pounds ; this, being duly por- 

 tioned over the rails on each side, left a weight to be borne by each, 

 which was considerably below its breaking power. 



The carriages which traversed this road were each worked by two 

 men, and travelled at the average rate of fifteen miles per day ; they 

 were four in number, of which one was of capacity to carry nine 

 hundred and forty-three lbs. of material, the remaining, seven hun- 

 dred and thirty-two lbs. each. They were made up in the shape of 

 boxes, placed upon a wooden frame, resting on axles, working upon 

 friction-wheels, according to the following plan : 



Transverse Section.. 



EBB DiE 



If 



