The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1879-10-21

Ed. IsTELLIGEScEg:-The operation
Of preparing timber by the injection Of
creosote 50 a. to enable it 20 resist nat
ural decay aud the ravaees Of wood
boring insects. is entirely new IN this
country, though prac,ised for upwards
Of forty years in Europe. where the
scarcity Of timber has neccssisated the
application Of scientific means for its
preservation.
The Hay ford process. is q great i'm
provement 10 the direction Of economy
and simplicity upon the European meth
Cd. and Is no doubt, destined TO come
into genera, use. as the increasing de-
mand for timber and the rapid exhaus-
tion of the supply, renders i, essential
to economic in its use. A brief de-
scription of the process will be of inter-
est to many who have been for some
time directing their attention to the
question Of timber supply. The mos.
prominent object is an immense cylin-
der. 1l2 feet long an / 6 feet clear inside
diameter. This cylinder is constructed
Of half>inch boiler iron, the beads being
in the form of q movable half globe of
:. inch flange iron. These heads swing
back on q hinge when opened. When
closed they are held in place by rings
Of gun iron, one ring at each end being
attached to the cylinder and one to
each Of the heads. fastened with bolts
passing through the two rings These
bolts are held by steel keys which are
thrown open simultaneously by the
turning Of the large screw, Q unique
and elaborate piece of mechanism.
Inside the cylinder is a railroad track
of 3 feet 6 inches; upon this the wood
to be prepared is loaded on cars sixteen
feet long, seven of which can be con-
tanned by the cylinder. The cylinder
will hold 10000 feet of lumber. After
the wood has been placed inside the
cylinder, steam is introduced. In the
main cylinder 10 q coil Of 400 feet of
pipe connected with the boiler for the
purpose Of heating the wood, which is
subjected to q temperature of 265'.
A pressure pump. vacuum pump and
condenser combined is next in order; o
cylinder 1918 feet, and an air cylinder
l2x1S. the latter compartment being
provided with water jacket to keep
the air cool. The waste steam from the
exhaust pipe Of the pump is admitted
to the main cylinder in addition to that
from the boiler. In order to prevent
the cap Of the wood from evaporating
too rapidly under the steaming proce SIS F,
and causing the wood to crack. atmos-
pheric air is forced in by the air pump
at q pressure of 30 pounds to the square
inch. This process is carried ON for
several hours, the time being depend
ent on the thickness of the timber
When the sap is svaporated, the steam
lis shut of aud the apertures of the
cylinder opened to allow the steam in
side to escape. Then the vacuum
pump is used for the purpose of draw
ms, off the moisture aud vapors Of the
wooo. a 'a,.-- A~-.. IS inches i.
attained; by which means the ti tin Ger ~ :.
the end Of this stage is left dry, the sap
having been all extracted and the pores
OF the wood open for the reception OF
the oil. The proper valves having
been opened. the vacuum pump again
becomes force pump. and pressure is
applied to the creosote in large tank
sunk IN the floor, with which its top 10
just level. The:creosote. heated to the
boiling point. is thus forced through a
series OF perforated pipes in the top Of
the main cylinder from which the oil
falls in continual shower upon the
timber. When thu oil IN the tank is
exhausted. the connection with the
tank is closed and pressure applied to
an air injector below the cylinder into
which the oil falls, which has not been
absorbed by the wood. The air passes
through the oil with great force, 100
pounds to the 'quare inch; carries it
back through the perforated pipes and
keeps up . continual revolution until
the wood has been thoroughly impreg-
mated. The work is then completed.
The first part Of the process is under
taken with the object of removing the
sap. and 10 the Gully mstho of artificial
drying ever attempted in connection
! with this operation.
The entire process occupies one day.
and by working day aud night. should
it be necessary, 40, 600 feet Of timber q
day can be creosoted. 1t is probable
that railroad companies. builders and
others using large quantities Of timber,
now requiring renewals every few years.
will speedily appreciate the advantages
Of creosoting. the efficiency of which
has been SO thoroughly tested.
! WILLIAM F. DOUGHTY.