Rensselaer Journal, Volume 11, Number 2, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 June 1901 — People and Events [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

People and Events

Haife Our Engines Failed ? The Midland Railway Company o£ England has administered a cold douche to our pride of industrial conquest by announcing that the American locomotives tested by the road have cost from 20 to 25- per cent more than the British in fuel, 50 per cent more in oil, and 60 per cent more in repairs. Against these fatal defects are to be counted only the trifling offsets that the American locomotives were delivered in a few' months instead of in three years and that their price was less than that of the British' by $2,000 apiece. It is explained that in American’ railroad practice engines are made to be worked to death and thrown on the scrap {leap. Englocomotives areexpected to become heirlooms. But there is probably something more than that behind the Midland’s figures.. In all neutral markets the American machines give perfect satisfaction and are crowding the English out. That is the case even on the state railroads of British colonies. Before our manufacturers admit that their products are failures on English roads they would probably like to see them ■ tested by American engineers and firemen.