EDITORIAL. 
STANDARDIZATION OF RAILWAY RAILS. 
A further stage in the huge and difficult task of the standardization 
of engineering practice in Australia has been taken by the Institute of 
Science and Industry by the convention of a Conference to draw up 
specifications for railway rails and fish-plates. Much of the preliminary 
work had been accomplished by the engineers of the Commonwealth and 
State Railway Departments, who had already agreed upon the standards 
for steel rails; but considerable work remained to be done in the adop- 
tion of specifications which would conform to the requirements of the 
Railway Departments, and which would assist Australian manufacturers 
against the keen competition of other countries. Despite the complexi- 
ties of the problem, success has been attained, and an agreement, which 
was unanimously adopted by the delegates, now only awaits the rati- 
fication of the various Governments of the Commonwealth. The 
Conference was held at the Institute of Science and Industry, Mel- 
bourne, on 30th July and 31st July, and 1st August, under the direction 
of Professor T. R. Lyle, and was attended by Messrs. R. Kendall 
(Engineer-in-Chief for Existing Lines, New South Wales), E. H. 
Ballard (Chief Engineer for Ways and Works, Victoria), M. KE. Kernot 
(Chief Engineer for Railway Construction, Victoria), J. C. B. Mon- 
crieff (Chief Engineer for Railways, South Australia), W. J. N. Short 
(Commonwealth Railways), C. Hoskins (G. and O. Hoskins Proprietary 
Limited); and Messrs. E. Lewis, L. Bradford, and R. H. M. Rowe 
(Broken Hill Proprietary Limited). The Western Australian Govern- 
ment was represented by Mr. Ballard; but Queensland, at the last 
moment, found it impossible to send a delegate. The value of railway 
rails used in Australia annually at present prices is, approximately, 
£2,000,000, and of fish-plates, £150,000. The direct result of the 
action of the Institute in enabling the users and the manufacturers 
to meet and discuss the various aspects of standardization, and the 
valuable assistance rendered by Professor Lyle in effecting a compromise 
apon the more contentious technical points, will be to give the Common- 
wealth an opportunity of competing more favorably for the large 
volume of trade which previously: went to overseas corporations. The 
decisions arrived at by the Conference on structural steel sections will, 
exert a similarly useful purpose, and must be reflected by a considerable 
accession of business to local manufacturers. Where the difficulties, 
owing to the apparently irreconcilable opinions of many of the interested 
parties appeared so great, it speaks well for the spirit which actuated. 
the representatives who met together, and augurs well for the success of 
future efforts. 
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