38

HISTORY AND PROGRESS

at first made of greater strength than necessaryto support the weight, yet, by frequent use, therails would soon become reduced in depth bythe action of the wheels, and would break longbefore they were worn through. It would thusbe necessary that the rails should be oftenrenewed, and as the road required to be alwaysof the same width, the bearing section of thesleeper, by the frequent perforation of the holesto fasten the sleeper down, would soon be ren-dered useless. Though much superior to thecommon roads, in point of economy and faci-lity, yet the frequent renewal of the rails andsleeper would be attended with considerableexpence, not oidy of time and labour, but alsoin the cost of the material.

The waste of timber thus occasioned, prin-cipally by the rail, when partly worn, beinginsufficient to support the weight of the car-riages, and being therefore thrown away, wouldno doubt produce many attempts to remedythe inconvenience; and, it is not improbablebut llie addition of another rail upon the surface,of that which rested immediately on the sleeper,was the next improvement, thus forming what,is called the “ double-way.” The upper rail,or that subjected to the action of the wheels ofthe carriages, could then be almost completelyworn away, without affecting, to a great de-