The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-12-02

The dense American forests are rapidly disap-
pearing. Already lumber is brought to the At
lantic coast from a distance of nearly two thou.
sand miles. 1t is estmsied that for years past
there have been cleared for cultivation ten thou
sand acres per day that the railroads expend for
ties alone over $30,000 900 per snnum; that the
fences OF the country cost about as much as the
towns and cities; that " cd and the work upon it,,
or rather that which Is made of wood, pays more
than half the internal revenue.
II is not strange. therefore. thatthe subject or
prest rviDg wood and timber from decay s attract
ing such universal attention at this time. Hereto
fore the process known as "Kyanizing and
" Burnetizing have been brought some what into
use, but they are expensive, and experience has
proved thar the metallic substances employed de.
stroy the integrity OF the fiber and make the wood
brittle. These processes have, therefore, been
almost abandoned In this country, as they have
been in Eugand for many years.
The preservative material now used in Great
Britain Is creosote oil. which is forced into the
pores of the wood by pressure. This treatment
has been adopted by the folio wing eminent engi-
waite, Buck, Harris, Wickstesd. sPntchard and
others. IL has been used with signal success on
the Great Western, Bristol and Exeter, Manches-
ter and Birmingham, Northeastern. South western,
Stockton and Darlington and Shoreham Harbor
railways.
Ties and bridge timbers thus creosoted were
lately exhibited at the Paris Exposition, which.
after having been exposed for twenty Eve years,
were found as sound and fresh as newly saved
lumber. I'D rof
From the results of years of experience all emf
neDt scientific and practical men are satisfied that
coal tar or creosote oil Is the best known anti
septic, and will preserve wood and lumber from
mould and decay. But the dill culty OF Its app-
cation has heretofore prevented its universal
adoption. This difficulty, 1t Is now claimed, has
been entirely obviated.
In 1865 spsient was granted to Louis $. Bob.
bins of New York, for the application Of coal
Tar nil nd M har alea oil an h
stances, to wood and lumber, In the shape Of
vapor. In 1866, this invention, known as the
Robbins process" was purchased BY the
National Patent Wood Preserving Company"
Already companies have been formed in Msssa-
chUsetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Vermont.
New Jersey and Pennsylvania, for the purpose OF
bringing the Robbins process into practical
use. Works have been constructed In Boston.
Mass; Concord. N. H.; New Haven, Ct; Prince
ron and Jersey City, In New Jersey, aud are soon
10 be put up liz many other places. for the pur-
pose OF treating lumber by this process. Here In
9y % aon waT RasnFW s1S sss
serving Company" with view to bringing this
invention into use In the cities Of New York and
Brooklyn, and throughout the counties of Kings.
Queens, Suffolk and Richmond.
The great merit claimed for the Robbins inven.
ton Is the simplicity and chespness OF the appa-
Tstus used, and the rapid and edectual man
per in which the wood is permeated by the pre-
srvauve in the form Of vspor. But from pract.
cal tests made, ii has been ascertaned that wood
treated by the Robbins process is not only
preserved; 1t IL seasoned, or, In other words
cured. as a ham is cured by smoking, and as hides
ny tanning. Doors, sashes, blinds, hubs aud
other articles made of perfectly green lumber. can
be subjected to the treatment without shrinking.
wsrpiDg. checking, or undergoing any change OF
form or dimensions; and after treatment Of q few
hours they are not only flied with the preserva-
tive. but season ed or cured, and primed with oil.
There are srilI other advantages claimed for the
Robbins trestment. Experiments by Alban G.
sinners and others have shown that it adds mate
rally TO the strength of the wood. To the strength
of with pine, foe instance. ii adds thirty-seveu
per cent; to that of white ash ffty per cent.
There can be no doubt that wood thus treated is
rot liable TO destruction by the naval worm, for
insects will not touch creosote. A committee ap-
pointed by tse Academy Of Sciences of Amster-
dam, after Eve,years Of experiment, report creo~
soIe oil As the only material which will furnish
wood with complete protection against the1or
redc.'
NsDy of the railroad com psnies and prominent
among them the Pennsyvania Railroad Company.
we are told, have secured the right 10 this val
nahle process 10 the treatment OF their wood and
lumber for ties cars, fencing platforms. bulldisgs
bridges, ttrestlework, etc. II one-hsf that 10
claimed Tor the inventioa be true, it would IN to
supply Just what IL wanted for The Nicoison and
other wooden pavements. and for the preservs.
ton OF the vast amounts OF timber consumer
yesr after year In constructing vharves and piers
vii our city authorities not investigate the sub
ject and act accordingly In, z. EysnirS Post