The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-11-04
ABOUT RAILROAD TIES.

The Washington correspondent of the
Globe-DemOcrat furnishes that paper
the following interesting data in regard
to the very important subject of rail
road ties; one that has engrosSed the at
tention of economists for some time in
view of the enormous drain upon the
forests of the country to supply the
great and growing demand for this nee
cessary class of timber. He says:
Metal ties are used on $4,000 miles of
railroad track. This is something the
department of agriculture has recently
ascertained. 1t Is one of the discoveries
resulting from an investigation made by
the forestry division. Another discovery
is that the railroads of the United
States are now requiring about $50, 1000,
000 new wooden ties every year. One
fifth of the timber product of this
country is regularly absorbed by the
railroads. And the railroads fifth is the
best that is produced. \ million
acres of good forest is stripped to
supply this single demand. This
government has only about 10000, 900
acres of public forest land remaining. II
is plain proposition that the time has
come for a forestry policy. 1t is also
very clear that the question of substitute
ing metal for wood in railroad ties is rap
idly developing interest.
I'm pursuing inquiries the forestry div
ision has learned that metal ties are now
in satisfactory use on 10000 miles of
railroad. Europe has one-third of this
metallic mileage. Asia, Africa and
South America have the remainder
There are only two miles of track on
metal ties in the United States. But IN
the countries where the substitute for
wood has been tried it is pronounced sat
isfactory. On but one road where metal
ties in considerable numbers were put
down have they been taken up. That
was a division in Prussia, where the
road-bed was at fault rather than the
metal ties. On all other roads where
trial has been made, the Use of metal
ties is increasing. The fair conclusion Is
that the substitution of metal for wood
has passed the experimental stage.
The railroad managers of the United
States are beginning to turn their atten-
ton to metal ties. The first experiments
upon an extended scale will be on the
plains. If those experiments are sue
cessful, the general introduction will
follow. The United States has gone by
the era of racing in construction. Terri
tory has been occupied. Questions of
comparative economy are beginning TO
impress themselves upon railroad man
agement. just rs soon as it as demon
strated that metal ties are cheaper In the
long run. the wooden ties will begin to
GO. a letter to the chief of the Forestry
division. from Mr.. c. F. Huntington, of
the Southern Pacific, shows the growing
sentiment. Mr.. Huntington writes:
Il have for several years advocated
the use of metal ties along the timberless
regions of our lines. and, while none of
them have as vet been put in use, |
| think they Will be given a trial
in the near future. You have no
doubt experienced that time and
considerable patience are necessary 10
direct the minds of men into fields Of in
vestlgatiOn differing from those in which
they have been educated. and in the
practice Of which they have spent
large part of their lives. To this fact |
attribute much of the apathy manifested
IN giving metallic ties trial; but now,
as their merits and those of the various
designs In use are being discussed by
American writers and engineers, there
viii be quickening of opinion about
them, which Is likely 10 make them IN
the next few years a factor of some inn
Portance in the discussion OF railroad
economies.
The forestry expert argues thai even If
a white OAK tis at 30 cents lasts eight
years. a steel tie which viii last thirty
five years will be cheaper, even though
the cost IS 81 20