August 13, 1853
1 min read
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What is the reason that so many of our railroads are constructed with such a quantity of curves—short and long—the short ones being the most numerous? In looking along the tracks of many of our railroads, they appear to have been constructed on the lines which a greyhound describes in chasing a rabbit, —there is such a doubling and tripling ot curves to be seen, that a person, if ignorant ot engineering must form but a very sorry opinion of the abilities of those who laid out the tracks. Numerous curves increase the liability to accidents, and certain expense in every sense of the term. We have noticed curves on some roads as it they were made tor the very purpose of obviating a straight, safe, and cheap line. This should not be ; all our railroads should be constructed, whenpoE-sible, on a bee-line.
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