Morden Frog and Crossing Works
1890 The Morden Frog and Crossing Works were incorporated in August, 1882, with an authorized capital stock of $500,000. They are manufacturers of frogs, crossings, split-switches, switchstands and fixtures, spring-rail frogs of improved patterns, stub-switch tie-bars, patent guard rail-clamps, combination-slip and three-throw splitswitches worked from one stand, Morden's patents, including the Childes and Latimer safety railroad bridge guard, and railroad track supplies in general. Their works are situated at South Chicago, and occupy five and one-eighth acres of ground, having 550 feet of track frontage on the Belt Railroad. The buildlings are substantially built of brick, and 275 men are now employed in the works. The Morden track material is in use on 190 rail roads in the United States, representing 78,000 miles of track, divided as follows: 29,040 stiff-rail track frogs, 2,045 spring-rail track frogs, 2,240 railroad track crossings, 11,050 Clarke and Jeffrey split-switches, 104 combination slipswitches, 10,750 switch-stands and connecting rods, 7,930 guard rails, bent, with clamps attached, 8,615 wrought-iron head chairs, and 16,505 stub-switch tie bars. The Morden material is manufactured by special machinery, and the steel rail is not heated; thus preserving its original quality.