Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1884-11-21
Timber and Tools.

Many practical persons marvel at this
and wonder to themselves why a piece
Of timber showing small crushing ten
sion and other strengths, requires
more power to work into lumber, and
at the same time wears out the saws
and cutting tools faster than other va
%rieties of timber, the strength of which,
in most respects, is greater.
\ log of black walnut and one of
burr oak of the same sized worked into
the same sized stuff will show widely
different results on both saws and ma
chinery. If we attempt to rive or split
these logs the walnut will work much
easier than the oak, and so far as the
various strengths are concerned the
oak is superior by far, but when cut
into by tools of any description the
walnut will present much greater re-
sistance than the oak, and the same is
true as regards many other varieties of
hard and soft timber.
III we take 4 longitudinal section of
these comparatively soft timbers which
are SO hard on the cutting edges. we
will find the minute pores or intarstices
filled with minute glistening particles
or crystals, and subject to chemical
analysis we will find them composed of
silica, one of the very hardest minerals
known, while with the hard. e~aSv-work-
ing woods they will be found nearly or
quite absent by both.the microscope
and analysis. these 1etle particles, so
tncly divided as to be l~nsusceptible of
ordinary touch, are really a better crit
than ordinary sand, and are the means
OF cutting OIL the fine edge of cutting
tools, as saw teeth, plane. irons, and
the like.
Two plane irons, made of a fine
quality OF steel, rs near alike as it was
possible for a skilled mechanic to
make them, were each hardened in
our laboratory by means of mercury,
then timely sharpened, so that the edges
OF each presented precisely the same
appearance beneath the magniiier.
These wereeach inserted in an ordinary
plane and one placed on the oak, the
other on q piece OF walnut, both pieces
OF wood having been previously
dressed. At the rate of 100 pounds
pressure, each iron vas crowded lor-
ward four inches. On theoak stick, the
pressure from the rear indicated 500
pounds, while with the walnut the in
dicator showedSa pressure OF over L.,
600 pounds. The irons were both now
Withdrawn, and the first placed be-
meath the microscope; the one used on
the oak presented a general upset ap-
pearancc, the edge OF the iron showing
q slight tendency to turn downward,
there being sufficient heat generated
ty the friction to partially draw tho
temper along the minute edGe, which,
however. would not extend back sul1i-
Gent to materially affect the wearing
ana cutting properties OF the iron if in
constant use.
The iron used On the piece of walnut
showed a scratch, notched appearance
all along the minute edge. and by the
ale OF the most accurate means of
measurement at hand, these notches
were all OF the same depth, but differ
ent distances apart, proving conclu-
sively that the particles of grit or crys.
tails which caused them, by being hard
er than the best mercury-hardened
steel, were all of the same size. and
evenly distributed as far as regards
depth of deposit in the grain OF the
wood. The small spaces of the iron
edge between these notches or scratches
were found nearly as the entire edge
appeared originally, showing again
that the cellular tissue Of walnut, out
side its mineral deposits, was really
softer than that OF oak; hence, were it
not for these deposits the timber would
cut much easier. OF course, if the iron
had been drawn back and again showed
through, the notches would have been
more apparent and general, increasing
each time, and distance showed until
the entire cutting edge had been OF it,
self cut off.
Consulting the laws governing plant
or vegetable growth, we are toll that
all food before becoming fit for assimil-
alton must be reduced to its gaseous
state. Ii this be so, the question
arises, how, OF by what methods of
plant-grcwth and assimilation, is it
possible for silica to appear in its orig
mai Crystalline state among the tissues
OF the growing or mature tree: while it
is universally known that this variety
OF wood crows only where this mineral
IS abundant in some of its modified
forms. This, however, is not OF great
interest to manufacturers just low it
gets there, but that it is present is
shown conclusively. To get rid of it,
even were it possible, would destroy
the beauty and general characteristics
OF walnut, and to overcome its action
on tools, rapid motion and softer iron
is the best, safest and most etlicacious
method.-Lumber Irade Journal.
The seventeen-year-old girl who
annually cuts her fathers entire cror
of Wheat and mows ten acres of grass
lives in Union County this year. Be-
sides performing these agricultural
labors, she has "set up with a store
c.erk three nights u week, READ V
continued stories in a weekly faA:ily
journal. attended four Sundar-schCol
picnics, set he dog OH twenty-nile
cramps, and fallen al a che ~ tree.
And yet some cranky editors continue
20 NrlAALNl tho dlr In: ..AAAat