Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 92.djvu/732

 716

��Popular Science Monthly

�� ��y

��Giant Cars to Help in Solving the Coal Problem

ONE of the reasons given for the coal shortage dur- ing the past winter was the lack of transportation facilities. The coal-carrying railroads of the country have tried for some time to solve this serious problem by substi- tuting larger cars for the old style coal cars of limited capacity. One of the south- ern railroads is now trying out several gigantic coal cars, which hold the record as the largest of their kind in the world. The average coal car in use on the differ- ent railroad lines has a capacity of sixty tons, while the new cars, one of which is shown in the illustration, has a capacity of 120 tons. The new cars, which dififer materially in their construc- tion from the old style cars, are only fifty feet long, that is fifteen feet longer than the average coal car of steel construction. The greater capacity has been attained by increasing the length of the car and also its depth. The center sill running lengthwise through the car acts only as the medium for transmitting the pulling and buffing stresses, while the side framework resting upon the trucks carries the load. To obtain a better distribu- tion of the weight, six-wheel trucks are used in- stead of the usual 2.0ir?HfGn four-wheel trucks.

��If You Own a Walnut Tree These Days You're in Luck

WALNUT, walnut, walnut. That is what your Uncle Sam is looking for just at present. What does he want it for? Why gunstocks. Walnut is and always has been the wood par excellence for the manufacture of stocks. It is easy to work, will not easily crack, and will not splinter.

In spite of the enormous demand which has always existed, and exists now more than ever, there is any amount of the wood to be got, so long as you are willing to pay the price. The reason for this is that in the timber countries, as they have become more and more settled, the inhabitants have sought to beautify their land and homes, and consequently, lacking the urging of necessity, have abso- lutely refused to sell their trees at any price. Now, under the spirit of patriot- ism, people are sacrificing these grand old landmarks to the service of their country, and consequently the Government is getting all the walnut it needs.

The boys are getting first- class stuff too. Uncle Sam lays down standards and when he's laid them down he sticks to them like glue. The conse- quence is that in this case the stocks are all cut from good wood, properly selected and seasoned, and with the grain running the proper way to guarantee therequisitestrength.

The next best wood for gun stocks is oak. Oak, however, does not yield so readily to the turning of the lathe. Furthermore, walnut will not crack so readily as oak. Other woods are not desirable. ?J2 p^^f^,^^^

��r

���This new car is only fifteen feet lonRcr than the average coal-car but has a capacity of one hundred and twenty tons. It should help solve the serious transportation problem

�� �