The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-04-04
Strength Of Our Fir.

iiI y ma LCNS,Si Va iNSNAAN >''>~
had this to say about the great
strength of our fir: Yesterday morn
ing the Chicago. Milwaukee d St.
Paul railway officials resumed the
testing of the timber at the mill OF
the ST. Paul and Tacoma Lumber
Company. 'The number of spectators
was larger than on the previous day.
Desiring to establish more firmly the
superior strength and durability of
Washington fir, Assistant Engineer
Clark of the Northern Pacific, had
provided several bridge stringers of va
rious lengths, widths and thicknesses,
which had been removed from North
ern Pacific bridges for the purpose.
The timbers were Ornamented with
a number of bent spikes, and here and
there an auger hole. Mr.. Hart Sc
lected the pieces TO be tested, and was
given the freedom OF the yard and all
its contents from which to make his
selection.
For the first test dry fir stringer,
sixteen inch9s wide, eight and three
quarters inches thick and twenty feet
long, Was hoisted upon the hydraulic
jack. 1t had seen two and one-half
years service in a Northern Pacific
bridge and had been punctured in ten
or fifteen different places by spikes.
Power war applied and the dial hand
moved merrily until the $500 notch
was reached, when a slight rupture of
the fibre Immediately above the jack
was noted. The pressure was increas-
ed and at 200 the piece broke. This
Indicated supporting strength of
about II 900 pounds. The detection
at 200 was one and seven-eights
inches. The distance between the Cir
dies Was nineteen feet.
A dry fir stringer, 8 16 inches and
I6-foot span was next employed in
the second test. The stringer had
been for three years in bridge To-
Gated on frequently travelled part Of
the Northern Pacific railroad, and was
as dry as a powder horn. The hydo-
static gauge, this time, showed 1000
before sign of weakness, and 1900
when the crash came. The fibre
strain was II inches, and the support
ing strength about $4,000 pounds.
The very extraordinary tensile
strength of green fir was demonstra-
ted in the third test A piece of
green fir timber 16 inches and 1872
foot span WAS used. The dial indi-
Gated 5000 with Il detection, and the
fiber was not Injured. The jack re-
fuslDg to operate, the pressure was re-
Taxed and the machine examined. A
clogging of sawdust Was removed and
the jack freshly charged with alcohol,
when the test proceeded. Pressure
Was again applied to the same piece of
timber and $500 was shown by tho
dial hand before the strinser broke.
The detection Was q inches, and the
supporting strength about 10000.
Three more tests were made, and
In each instance the same satisfactory
result WAS attained. The -entlem ell
representing the railroad company are
enthusiastic over the result of their
visit, and speak in the highest terms
OF Washington fir. During these tests
Mr.. Hart frequently repeated a re-
mark he made the previous day to
the effect that he had never seen TIM
Der that showed such remarkable ten
slle strength. He attributes this
strength to the large fiber, which is
the characteristic of Washington fir.
This has the first thorough test
that has been made as to the tensile
strength of native fir. The Northern
Pacific railroad company recently
made series Of tests, but not so com
plete as that conducted by the repre-
sentatives of the Chicago Milwaukee
d ST. Paul railway. 1t demonstrates
the fact that Washington fir, which is
almost inexhaustible in quantity, is
superior to the pine of Michigan.
Wisconsin and Minnesota, and even
exceeds the hard woods in strength.
Evidences of the durability can be
found on every hand. Fir stringers
have been in use on the Northern Pa
Cliff railroad for five or six years, and
are now almost as sound as the dav
they were laid. The adaptability of
Washington timber for ship building
was demonstrated long ago, and this
industry is of growing Importance.
Messrs. Croker, Smith and Hart will
be prepared on their return east to
make favorable report upon the tim
Der of the Pacific northwest, and To-
cal lumber men will in time reap the
benefit.