10

INTRODUCTION.

malleable iron-rails, illustrated by severaldrawings.

In preparing this chapter, the remote dateof the first application of Rail-roads to thetransit of goods, has somewhat obscured thispart of the subject, and rendered it not quiteso perspicuous and clear as I could havewished. In following up the history,I have however endeavoured to trace thesuccessive steps, from one improvement toanother, which I have illustrated by requi-site drawings. I have also given drawingsof several rails at present in use, in caseswhere general opinion seems to have con-curred in pronouncing their superiority.Perhaps, some readers may find that nonotice is taken of various kinds of rails,which they may think important. I have,however, given all those which materially