Transcriber’s Note:
The cover image was created by the transcriber and is placed in the public domain.
The object of this work is to give in the plainest possiblemanner all instructions, rules, and tables necessary for thelocation, construction, equipment, and management ofrailroads.
As a general thing, American engineers are not educatedfor their business; and when they do possess a knowledgeof pure science, they are at a loss how to apply it.
The reader is presumed acquainted with the elements ofarithmetic, geometry, algebra, and mechanics: being thusprovided, he will, by a perusal of what follows, be enabledto correctly proportion bridges, of wood, stone, and iron:abutments, piers, retaining walls, superstructure, and locomotiveengines; and to plan and lay out, execute, andestimate any description of work occurring upon railroads.
As the object has been more to be useful than original,the best engineering writers and experimenters have beenconsulted; among whom are,—Gauthey, Navier, Vieat,ivTredgold, Barlow, Totten, Fairbairn, Hodgkinson, Clark,and Lardner. Also a great number of reports by Americancivil engineers upon railroad matters.
If assumptions take the place of demonstration, it willbe on good authority. Readers will bear in mind that thework is a “handbook,” and not a “treatise.” It is intendedmore as an office companion than as a text-book for students.It will give in all cases the actual numerical resultneeded, whether it be the scantling of a bridge chord, thethickness of a wall, or the dimensions of a locomotiveboiler.
In connection, it will be found convenient to use theworks of Trautwine and Henck, on Field Work: of LieutenantSmith, on Topography; Davies, on Surveying; andGurley, on the Use of Instruments.
Any one wishing a complete treatise on the principles ofbridge construction is referred to the excellent work ofHermann Haupt.
I take this opportunity of heartily thanking the engineerswho in many ways have aided in making the work, as it isbelieved, of some worth.
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