The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-05-25
TREE CILTURE-

1t has been said that he who makes two
blades of grass to grow upon a spot of
ground where only one grew before would
deserve better of mankind than all the poll
ticians put together. If that be true what
shall be said of him who causes hundreds
of trees to grow where none at all grew
before? That is what Secretary John p.
Brown, of the International Society of Ar
Horticulture, is doing through his energetic
labors for the promotion of tree-planting
and culture. A bulletin recently issued by
the society above named discusses the
problem as to railway ties of the future
and artificial tree culture as a means of
solving it. The problem is one of more
practical Importance than most persons
would imagine ate first glance. Everybody
knows in a general way that the original
supply of timber in the country has been
enormously reduced and that the consump-
ton is still going on at a rapid rate, but
hardly any one realizes the possibility of a
timber famine even remotely. AS the popu-
lation of the country increases the con-
sumption of timber goes on at an ever
increasing rate. That which is used for
building purposes is far from representing
the entire consumption. The consumption
for railway cross-ties and telegraph poles
is very great. Every railroad has to replace
about one-sixth of all its cross-ties each
year, and their cost is increasing from year
to year. Many forms of metallic ties have
been devised, and they are quite generally
used in Europe, but they are very ex-
pensive and there are almost insuperable
reasons against their use on American rail-
roads Admitting that wooden ties are
preferable, as they certainly are much
cheaper. the question arises, how shall the
future demand be met? The Society of
Arboriculture thinks it can be met by the
culture Of catalpa trees. The catalpa is a
native American tree and the name is
aboriginal. 1t was indigenous to the lower
valley of the Wabash river in Indiana and
Illinois, and gradually spread through the
lower Ohio and Mississippi valleys. 1t can
be cultivated successfully almost anywhere
in the Mississippi valley. 1t grows fast,
natures quickly, is easily worked and very
enduring. The wood is said to contain per-
manent antiseptics which preserve it's fbers
from decay A circular recently issued by
Mr.. Brown says:
The Indian tribes who dwelt in the val
ley of the Wabash traversed this re-
gion sought such trees could be easily
wrought with their rude implements, and
those which were most enduring. from
which to fashion their canoes, and the ca
talpa was their favOrite wood. The early
white settlers in the valley of the Wabas h
were instructed as to the valuable qualities
of the catalpa, and they made use of it in
constructing their houses, boats and stock
ade forts, which have endured through more
than a century. Gen. William ii. Harrison
often spoke of the catalpa and urged it's
cultivation, since he had known of its many
valuable qualities during his residence at
Vincennes. He had seen this wood sound
and bright more than century after il had
been placed in the stockades, and he used
catalpa for posts in his fences ninety years
ago. some of which are still standing. The
writer procured one of these posts for the
New Orleans exposition in 1885. 1t was
sound and good for many years additional
service.
Further evidence Of the toughness of the
catalpa wood is found in a communication
to the Railway Age by ]. NJ. Bucklin, an
engineer on the Miami canal in 1926. He
says:
The importance of the catalpa has for a
| long time impressed itself so strongly on
my mind that l have repeatedly. for the last
forty years, urged upon railroad companies
| the great advantage TO be derived by them
| from the propagation of these trees in large
| bodies. . The Board of Public Works
of Illinois in 1895 ordered me to select lands
| for that purpose on the routes Of the
/ various railroads in process of construction
| but the system was not carried out. The
| employment of so durable a material would
1 prove beneficial as the use of steel in
| point of economy in the maintenance OF
railroads, and would dispense with the
enormous cost of labor in constant replace
ment Of wood. In 1S2S, while Captain Smith
/ of the United States army. and myself were
exploring the obstruction of the Wabash
/ river. we Unexpectedly discovered a lofty
/ forest of catalpa of large size at the mouth
/ OF White river, below Nincennes, Ind. In
/ 1866 l found IL in large bodies and of enor-
nous height and size. three and four feet
/ in diameter, and fifty feet without a limb
near Poplar Bluff. Mo. OF the route OF the
/ Iron Mountain Railroad. Throughout that
| region the peculiar value OF the tree is
/ well known for its durability and other
| qualities. Canoes are made exclusively OF
catalpa; they never crack in seasoning, OF
/ rot.
The circular cites many facts showing
the remarkable enduring qualities OF the
' catalina wood in many instances cross-ties