The St. Louis Republic., 1903-10-25

in turn Increases its Gust. and a. Il takes
Al least seventy wears Tor "A W0isC oak
sIorn 20 grow into tree large enough TO
he converted Into railway ties. it would
seem that the present SUPPLY wuulu o. 'N-
hausted before new growth could b. oh
taiued.
Further. IL l. claimed that white oak
often splits under e heavy strain. '-T"-
ciaIly after .L has been "a the track five
or six years.
The ideal wood being sought FAR and
vide by railway mIrdgsrs Is that which
has strength. elasticity. durability ana
viii grow raridly wherever planted
ArbOrculturistS state that hut Few trees
OF any worth attain any growth worthy uf
consideration In short period. hut, Jr-
curdine 20 John 7. Brown. SECRETARY and
treasurer % the International Society ~
ArbOrculturc and the editor Of "a magI-
zine On arborCulture. the catalp1 speriuSI
tree has all the qualities demanded OF the
growth in a comparatively short period.
CATALPA TREES FAVORED.
As result ~ Mr. Browns investiEa-
ti0ns many railroads have planted I1r-e
number Of Catulpa tr"oa near their lines.
designing thar they De- used Tor railway
ties when they have grown TO q suitable
girth
Mr. Brown not only claims that th.
Catalpa tree aJtaiUs = sufficient Eruwth
in thirteen years. but that IL draws GER
tain qualities from the soil by which 81
renders itself iInpervi1us Co the attacks of
insects and lasts tniriy-iiss years. instead
" from seven 20 eight years-
In an interview ON thr subject Mr.
Brown said:
'.If a railroad wer. 20 Use cat1Ira cross-
ties they would require tp G- renewed but
twice In a Ccntury-ghaL is the durability
OF the ties would be thIrty-fve years
When tres may be grown su so short
a time as sixteen years which Will Inst
in the track Hs cross ties twice the time
TawnHfrgf fgr h. fraE n fa -DwHH #g=
the attention or all railway officials and
Is OF especial Interest TO IN" st0Ckhultg-S.
in 1872 the old Air Line Railway be-
gan laying tracks through Edwards COuu-
". Illinois In the construction OF this
track large numbers u caralpa trees were
used for cross ties
Through the courtesy OF IT. Z. Sucucrr.
general manager u tire southern. ] was
permitted 90 make search for these
ties. and last September I found three Of
the original catalpa ties. all OF which
were sound and in good state uf presgr-
walton. after tEirty-One years service
''Thirty-one years ago thlrty-poUni rails
and four-irCh 50 kCs were used. and ties
OF the pre-eut thickness were not re-
Cuired- These ties were. therefore but Eve
inches thick In modern construction. with
ninty-pnuud rails and siN-iuch spikes.
these sloeptrs were not thick enough ard
the long spikes passed completely through
the wood. For this reason most % the
Catalpa ties have been removed
"a white oak tie lasts one-tenth &c long
as Il takes 90 grow. lIiie these catalpa
ties last twice as long.
Mr. Brown states that there are many
varieties OF the catalua. but that the
eatalpa species Is the one OF worth as a
railway slge.er.
Wabash Valley. but will grow anywhere
In the United States. In appearance IL Is
as distinctly upright as the L0ubardy
poplar and attalns considerable height.
The true catalpa specioSa. according 10
Mr.. Brown. begins 10 bloom about -vyn
weeks before the other trees Of the same
II Is Nr. Crowns intention 10 have fur
ntture and beams of the c1tnipa spsci0sa
exhibited AZ the Worlds Fair. The wood
takes high polish and has beautiful
grain
FRIsCO's TIMBER SUPPLY.
The Frisco is recognized as one Of the
largest tie-supplying roads In the United
States, having vast timber resources along
its line. whi-h are being worked 10 con
siderable profit
In addition to the white oak resources
available the Frisco has planted 6fp acres
in catalpa trees near Darlington. Kas. Ia
order to prove not only the value Of ca
talpa as tie timber. but TO experiment on
using overworked land for this purpose
ing and timber agent Of the Frisco, stated
that he believed the experiment on the ca
talpa planting would prove great sue
cess. and that land not available for az
ricuItural purposes could be used for ca
talpa trees with considerable profit-
Mr. Jacques SAID that the land owned
by the Fl SEQ near FGrilngton was COW
cred with a heavy growth OF catalnas.
which were being thinued out as the
density OF the growth prevented the trees
developing. ard about so carloads OF posts
had been taken from this land sold al
a profit. as well as being of benefit TO
the forest by the clearing out
Speaking OF the amount of timber moved
over the Frisco during the last fiscal year.
Mr. Jacques said &5I4 carloads. amounting
to 5A.SIf ties. were delivered BY the
Frisco during that period. in addition to
12IO4 carloads Of other forest products
In a comparative estimate of the timhc-