TRACK MAKING.

Otago Witness, Issue 2612, 6 April 1904, Page 49

TRACK MAKING.

In view of the fact that a North Islaud track, is stated to have beon measured eight feef ifroro the inside rails, the following raise given by an American paper shauld be read with interest:— A wire should be accurately measured, which may best be done with a long steel taps measure. Sufficient length should be p Mowed so that several ium-. may be made around a stick at the end, and •also p loop to slip over a spike io be driven in thi timer end of the tiim'vg st.iV". One end o£ the wire should ba taken r.nd placed upon tho stake at

tiie .end of tli« stretch, -wKile en assistant with the other end proceeds towards the end of the opposite- stretch. When the wire has been 'tightly " drawn the turning stake shotild ba located in exact line with the stakes ait the end of the stretches and firmly guyed in every direction. After the circuit has been made a*d tho stakes driven for the turn, the novice will probably be surprised to find the wiie is from 16in to 18in too long from stretching. If this should be the case, t should be shortened so that it will exactly reach the stake at the end of ..the stretch, and the turn corrected. After thartrack is laid out it should always be carefully measijred,3ft from the stakes befoie construction is commenced. If this is done •with. m ci&ain, it "will be found necessary to have as many ag three assistants to make s*ure that the chain follows the curve at the turns. A HALP-MIIiE TRACK. • Draw the parallel lines 600 ft long and 452 ft Bin;' apart. Half-way between "the extreme ends *>f-the two parallel lin^s drive a stake, then loop » wire. Then make a true curve - -with the wire, putting down a stake »s' often as , a fence-post is needed. iWhen this operation is finished' at both ends of the 600 ft parallel lines the track is laid out. The inside fence will rest exactly on the line •■ttijawn, 'but track must' measure a half-mile Bft 'from the fence. The turns should be thrown up.,'lin..to the foot. ~~l <~ .' A MILE TBACK. • Draw a line through an oblong centre 440 yds 7 inf' length, setting a stake at -each end. Tnen -draw a line. on ; either side' of the -first line, "exactly parallel -with and 417 ft' 2in from it, seating 'stakes at either end of them. You will ' then have an oblong square 440 yds long and .834 ft 2in wide. At each end of these three lines -you'will now set stakes. Now fasten a cord 'or -wire 417 ft 2in long to the centre stake .of your .parallelogram, and then describe a half-circle,-driving stakes as often as you wish to Bet a' -fence-post. "When the circle is made at both" ends of your parallelogram you will have two; straight sides and two circles which, measured 3ffc .from the fence, will be exactly a mile. Hie turns should be thrown up lin io the foot.