The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-05-12
DILL FOR TESTING TIMBER.
,~rxopuCED FOR PURPOSE SHOW
ING STRENGTH OF SPECIES.
sse Bill Appropriates $4,000, of
which 80 Per Cent. to he Ex-
,euded ON Pacific Coast-senator
Fosters Favorable Report.

on<cdai Dispatch to the Post-Intelligencer
WARRINGTON, May 1.-THE bill intro
ssted BIZ Senator Mcbride, of Oregon,
seoropriadng $4,000 for conduct ting timber
80 Investigations. provides that 20 per
resf. OF that amount shall be expended
- the Pacific coast. The bill was referred
= Chairman Proctor. OF the agriculture
"a forestry committee. to Senator Fos-
Z, who has made an extensive and care
euly ursrered report in favor Of the bin.
~ Pacific coast senator's are all anxious
4 have THIS bill become a law, az II VIII
- rrt,ch 10 make the wood manufacture
- industries, and architects and build
= generally, familiar with the merits Of
- Ar timber, The report says:
.sTne necessity exists for the speedy pub
walton OF authentic information regard
y American timber. While II is trre
stst numerous tests have been made, And
X various times and places, satisfactory
srsornaton suitably arranged in tables
- The subject thoroughly and fmpartiaily.
essrot be collected and published by the
government becalse Ct a lack Of appro-
srStions for this commendable purpose.
smsa'sa 81 ,ss s e i mss, n ssu
shIs and the same VIII prove OF incaicul-
IN value to the public at large. Great
~ and much Inconvenience results from
4
xbject, and, In view OF the enormous
e,fns annually expended In harvesting the
wvduct Of the American forests. and in
~ purchase OF lumber throughout the
puntry, the data 70 be published should
IA comprehensive, but should be speedily
ccnpfled as contemplated in this bill
Above all the information desired By con-
tking reliable. authentic and authoritative
In q word, something complete and i'm
prfial that would be accepted as a stand
"a reference.
The results desired would indeed be Of
the greatest value TO engineers. as well as
~ public generally In fact, OF such great
ynine are these tests TO engineers and
those directly interested In possessing au-
th<ntic data that several investigations
NAYS been conducted by private parties
Douglas fir or what fs commonly termed
ar" The tests have been conducted
mostly by railroad companies for the pur-
poSe Of svailing themselves OF such facts
4 would guide them in purcha sing bridge
snd car building lumber with the best
poeebe results.
Washington Lumber Output.
with reference 10 that portion OF the
VII providing that 80 per cent. OF the
amount appropriated be utilized in CON
dartng Investigations on the Pacific
ecsst. II may be proper to direct attention
10 the fact that the state OF Washington
has an annual lumber output aggFeeating
approximately Too,0o0,0o1 feet and the an
nua shipments by rail 20 the East not
outstanding the long rail haul. amounts
10 nearly 800. 10000 feet. considerable
por'ion Of these rail shipments Is the d.
sscs result of the tests referred 20. i'm
arslns, as they did. more thorough
knowledre possessed by railroad compa-
ME- Of the strength and durability OF Ar
timber This knowledge H. as a rule. not
possessed by the public generally. Some
hea. however. of the surprising results
attained may be Indicated by compari-
sen OF the strength developed under treat
lns tests by white pine. Eastern oak ard
Douglas fir:
Pounds
FNtsrn white pine. ..................... 1910
k4Ntrht oah .s....s.-.ss..s...s.s.. Z,aJ
Douglas Ar ........................ 43cO
'QuiAe as interesting and surprising 70
the average citizen are the details OF oak
end fr tests one ~ which is here given
Oak and Fir Tests.
The following breaking tests were
made by o. ID. Colvin. at the South Ta-
-. - A