A SHIP RAILWAY.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3050, 5 April 1881, Page 4

A SHIP RAILWAY.

One of the most astounding of propositions oven in this era of pontic engineering accomplishments, is the railway projected by Mr Eads for the conveyance of even the West iron-clad vessels across the American isthmus. Mr "Eads is no mere visionary schemer, but one of America's boldest, and most successful engineers, accomplishing works of unequalled magnitude by methods as original as they were scientific, and with the least, delay and the greatest economy. The Scientific American of November 13 1880 contains full-page illustrations and some detailed drawings of the working parts of this extraordinary scheme, from which we gather that there is really nothing to hinder the project bring a .ii««. The plan pro-pn,,p-i; at i.v,,,lvt-n-.it the «Mn on to nn 1 » '• ■"- t-lii-n pu'k , '! • !v>vv eTU'iiv ir . „, i I „,. W-wfN .hywit:>». vessels of small sue ; but in tins case the carco will remain on the ship, and all yards and" tails left standing exactly as if the vessel were at anchor in the water. The. mam weight of the vessel will rest on her keel, a portion being sustained by the opposing bilge blocks, which also keep her from cap-, sizing. When the ship is entirely out of the water, the s'ationary engine is detached and two powerful double locomotives are to jiati) the massive load to the opposite sea at £ rate of speed of ten or twelve miles ncr hour The railway will be composed of twelve rails, placed 4 feet or 5 feet apart. The ship cradles will be of various length to receive all classes of vessels, and tv.ll have wheels about 3 feet apart on each Vail making a total for large steamers of from 1000 to 1200 wheels. The maximum pressme allowed to a wheel sustaining twenty tons will be but five tons. This .'lutributed ovei , •■ .ii 1 ii - -pressure on so many wheels will make tlib r. is the road bed quite moderate ; each _' independent of the rest, and the failu. one would not effect its neighbor. Hy v simple contrivance one vessel will be enabled to pass another coming from the opposite direction. The claims put forward for tins scheme are " that it is equally practicable along any route that a canal can be made, and that it will only cost one-half as much. That it can be built in one-third to onequarter the time needed to make tho canal. That ships can be moved at four or Sve times greater speed than in the canal. That a greater number of vess-'ls a day can be transported ; and that its an pacity can easily be increased as required to meet the increased size of ships or thfe nunibcrof them. That the cost of maintenance will be less. That the railway can be located where a canal could not be. That it is possible to estimate exactly the cost of the railway and the time needed to build it." Commenting upon these bold assertions, the Scientific American remarks :—" Coming from an adventurer they would be startling and extravagant ; but Mr Eads is no adventurer. lie is an engineer who has shown his practical skill as a builder of large ships, of railway bridges of the boldest construction, waterways of the most extensive scope, and in every great undertaking he has demonstrated a financial ability not less remarkable than his engineering capacity. Not a few of the ablest and most experienced engineers and ehip-buildere of the world have pronounced this plan entirely practicable and far more economical than canals for the same work." Mr Eads is now engaged in Mexico with a complete staff of engineers surveying the proper position for this railway, and it is likely to be commenced as soon as a thoroughly good route shall have been decided ■upon,