History of R.C.C. sleepers: Joseph Monier (inventor associated with reinforced concrete) suggested the use of reinforced concrete sleepers for railways in the year

Introduction / Context:
Reinforced concrete (R.C.C.) revolutionized civil engineering. Its introduction to railway sleepers promised longer life and better strength compared with timber under heavy traffic.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Joseph Monier is linked with early R.C.C. innovations in the 19th century.
• We seek the historical year he suggested R.C.C. sleepers for railways.

Concept / Approach:
Monier’s work in the 1860s–1870s led to broader applications of reinforced concrete. Around 1877, suggestions and early trials of R.C.C. for sleepers emerged as a logical extension of his patented concepts from the late 1860s.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Recall Monier’s patents (starting 1867) and subsequent diffusion to structural applications.Associate railway sleeper proposals with the subsequent decade.Select 1877 as the best-supported year.

Verification / Alternative check:
Historical summaries of concrete sleepers point to late-1870s proposals and experiments, aligning with 1877.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• 1857: Pre-dates Monier’s R.C.C. patents.
• 1867: Year of early patents; sleepers proposal became publicized later.
• 1887/1897: Too late relative to initial proposal timing.

Common Pitfalls:
Confusing Monier’s first R.C.C. patent year with the sleeper proposal year; attributing sleepers to later standardized adoption dates.

Final Answer:
1877