Afternoon Session.

The President called the convention to order at 2 p. m. The Secretary-Mr. President and Gentlemen, before proceeding with the regular order of business, I wish to call the attention of the members to the fact that on page 87 of the report of the proceedings at Denver will be found the report of the Committee on Standard Frogs, which was requested to be reported upon at that meeting, but which report appears out of place in the record. The report is full and complete in itself, and is signed by P. Nolan, Chairman; R. Caffrey, T. Hickey, O. F. Jordan, J. H. Preston, A. B. Adams, C. H. Cornell.

This was acted upon at the meeting. The report was accepted and the matter dropped.

The President --We have some other unfinished business. A committee was appointed on the address delivered by J. H. Preston on "Organization of Societies." This Committee is composed of the following named gentlemen, viz.: John Sloan, O. F. Jordan, C. E. Jones and John P. Ramsey. Is this Committee ready to report?

There being no response to the inquiry of the President, the subject was passed.

The resolution of Mr. Reed to appoint a committee on revision of the Constitution and By-Laws was called up and unanimously adopted.

The Chair announced that he would name the committee next morning.

The President-We have a letter here in regard to the matter of going to Niagara Falls, which the Secretary will read for the benefit of the Association.

The Secretary read the letter referred to, as follows:

O. F. Jordan:

SUSPENSION BRIDGE, 4:05 p. m., Sept. 7, 1890.

I have obtained special rate of three dollars per day at International or Cataract Houses. Mr. Gluck, of International House, says he will give your party four dollar a day accommodations, and I think you will be best served at that house. The Suspension Bridge and the Cantilever Bridge, at Suspension Bridge, will be at your service. Am offered a return rate over the bridge at Niagara Falls of fifteen cents. I get special rates on carriages, and free entrance to many places of interest. Advise what arrangements to make. I am at your service until after you leave here on September 13th. F. D. SWAN.

The President-We will now have the report of the Committee on Nut Locks, Track Bolts and Spikes.

The report of the Committee on Nut Locks, Track Bolts and Spikes being called for, George W. Bishop, Chairman, submitted the following report, which was read by H. W. Reed, as follows:

To the President and Members Roadmasters' Association of America:

GENTLEMEN-Your Committee appointed to consider and report on the subiect of nut locks, track bolts and spikes respectfully report, recommending that railroad officials should exact, and manufacturers should give, greater attention to the production of track fastenings, superior both in material and workmanship. The great tendency is to cheapen the product at the expense of its quality, and this your Committee deem it wise to protest against. With reference to nut locks, there are two general classes positive and elastic. Your Committee does not consider it proper to suggest any particular manufacture or design, but recommend the following general specifications:

For general main line use, an elastic steel nut lock washer, made with high temper and with sufficient resistance to require a pressure of at least 3,000 pounds to compress it; the total possible compression not to exceed 3% of an inch. For frogs and crossings, an elastic washer with a resistance of 6,000 pounds, or a positive nut lock may be used. The elastic washer should present a total bearing surface-upon each nut and the plate - of at least 34 of a square inch; and it would be better if that surface could be increased to at least I square inch.

A washer of this character should be used with every bolt, and should

be compressed by the nut, not to exceed 80 per cent. of its possible compression.

With reference to track bolts we would recommend the following diameters: For rail from 50 to 60 pounds per yard, 34-inch; from 60 to 80 pounds, %-inch; above 80 pounds, 1-inch, and 1-inch bolts should be used with all frogs. The material of all bolts and nuts should be steel. In length bolts should not extend "more than "from nut when the latter has been screwed up properly. Threads should be of standard pattern, and both nuts and bolts should be threaded so as to produce, as nearly as possible, a uniform and close contact between the planes of the threads. Heads of bolts should be round, with an oblong shoulder next to head to prevent turning. The nut should be of the hexagonal pattern, the thickness of nut, and the width of each hexagonal face, should be the same as diameter of bolt.

With reference to spikes we would recommend steel as the best material. Pattern the same as now in general use, and size 51⁄2 inches long under the head by 9-16-inch diamater. The points should be neatly finished-of such a shape as to admit of driving without turning from the rail, and to avoid seriously injuring the fibre of the wood.

We recommend steel spikes because we believe that such material, properly tempered, will wear far better than iron at that part which comes in contact with the rail, and, also, because we believe a steel spike stronger than an iron one of same dimensions.

G. W. BISHOP,

M. PHILBIM,

J. M. MEADE,

H. W. REED, J. KINDELAN.

On motion of J. W. Craig, the report was accepted for the purpose of placing it before the convention for discussion.

The Secretary-In order to start matters, Mr. President, I understand from the report that the intention of the Committee is to have the nut lock not to be compressed to the full limit, but rather eighty per cent., as the report mentions. I have always seen it practiced, and my own men practice tightening up (take the Verona nut lock for example) to the full extent of its elastic limit. Not to its elastic limit, either; that is wrong; but until the spiral is closed. Now, I would understand from the report, that this is not intended, but rather that the nut lock should be of such strength as not to require being tightened up completely, Further along in the report it is recommended.

that a hexagonal nut be used in preference to a square or any other shape. Now, you have all seen and know of the square nut, the corners of which coming in contact with the angle bars were cut off so as to have the same advantage of the hexagonal nut, but at the same time giving greater surface for the track wrench. You all know that after your bolts have been tightened once or twice, the corners become worn off; and that being the case, it is very difficult to tighten or loosen them. Now, I am of the opinion that the hexagonal nut does not offer surface enough for the track wrench, and that it should be a square nut with such cutting away of the corners as will permit free movement on the angle bar. I have been under the impression that the hexagonal nut was made with the intention or with the purpose of overcoming the trouble that was experienced in turning the square nut when used in connection with the angle bar. This can still be overcome by cutting away the corners that come in contact with the angle, and have the advantages of the square and the hexagonal nut combined. I, for myself, am in favor of a nut of such construction.

J. Kindelan Mr. President, our Committee has recommended the tightening of the nuts only eighty per cent. for the reason that the intention of the spring nut lock is to admit of expansion and contraction; and when fully tightened up expansion and contraction can not take place. If room is not left for expansion between the splices, the track will be forced out of line. That is one reason why we should use the spring nut lock in preference to the positive nut lock. And I think the reasons which led to the adoption of the hexagonal nut should be sufficient to retain it in service. I do not think the wear on the wrench should count for anything at all against those reasons in favor of the hexagonal nut. It would be much more difficult, I think, to prepare a square nut, if it had to be prepared for use with an angle bar, than to use the hexagonal nut.

W. H. Stearns- Mr. President, that Committee in recommending a nut lock, prescribed one to resist a pressure

of 3,000 pounds even. Now, with angle bars of four bolts you will get a pressure of 6,000 pounds. It wasn't so stated, but I presume they meant the minimum-two bolts at the end of each rail. We will say 6,000 pounds. Now, we know 6,000 pounds is not going to prevent the rail from expanding in a hot day, or from contracting in a cold day; and if that is the only reason why the gentleman advocates the elastic nut lock, I think we have other very good reasons we can name, and thereby add to the report of the Committee. The worst fault I know of with bolts, is their liability to become loose; and a pressure of considerably more than 3,000 pounds is. necessary to be applied to them to keep them tight for any considerable length of time. And a very important office of the elastic nut lock is to quiet the noise you would get if there was no elasticity, and if you had to take it up. I give that as a better reason for its use. Now, they say they are not going to compress this elastic nut-lock to its full bearing; they are not going to bring it down to the angle bar, but are going to allow it to stay open. You propose to reduce it to eight-tenths of 3,000 pounds, or 2,400 pounds pressure on that bolt, which, gentlemen, I consider is insufficient to keep the splices up any length of time; not a sufficient length of time to enable us to get over our sections and do up the work and get around again to the tightening of bolts.

Mr. Kindelan --Mr. President, as I understand 3,000 pounds is the minimum. It should appear so in the report. They would not accept a nut lock, the minimum pressure of which was less than 3,000 pounds. They can make them capable of eight or ten thousand pounds pressure if they wish.

Mr. Bishop-I think Mr. Stearns attempted to convey the idea to this convention that there would be but 3,000 pounds pressure on a joint. There being four bolts to a joint, there would be four times that pressure when you consider the question of contraction and expansion.

Mr. Stearns In considering the resistance that must be