St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1904-03-05
WOOD FOR RAILROAD TIES
Catalpa Ire es-GrOwn by Rail-.
way COMPANIES.

Catalpa Ire .s-GrOwn by Rail-
way Companies.
Arboriculture, a monthly magazine
published in Indianapolis, in the interest
of the International Society of Abort
culture, devotes considerable space in
recent issue to a consideration of the
Pennsylvania Railroad company's
project to raise locust trees on large
scale for ties. The locust is an excel
lent wood for posts, but Arboriculture
does not think SO well of it for railroad
ties. It says:
'''If locust is used for ties the holes
must be bored When spike is once
driven into a locust and the wood sea-
soned it will break OF, but cannot be
withdrawn. There is no more elasticity
in locust tie than in cast iron. In
track removals it will be found extreme
~ difficult and slow work with cross
ties of locust so much SO as with metal
ties" 4
The ideal tree to grow for railroad
ties, in the opinion of Arboriculture, is
the catalpa speciosa. This is quick
growing, tall, upright foresttree. There
are a number of species and varieties
and when they grow near the speciosa
they readily hybridize, and the trees
raised from such seeds are disappoint.
ing. Most of the catalpa seen in this vi
cinity have short trunk, while both
the trunks and larger limbs are more or
icin tic
material The Pennsylvania Railroad
company, we understand, experimental
with catalpa tree growing some years
ago, but it was disappointed with the re.
suit, for the reason, Arboriculture
states, that their trees were not he ca
alpa speciosa, but hybrid. The ILL.
nois Central railroad have some 200.
600 catalpa trees growing near De Quoin.
Ill. The catalpa speciosa Is a western
tree. It will be the subject OF specia.
exhibit at the st. Louis exposition. under
the auspices of the International Society
of Arboriculture.
Formerly the best heart wood Of
white oak trees was the only timber used
for railroad ties. The supply of this has
long since ceased to be sufficient for the
demand for ties, and inferior wood OF
various sorts is now accepted, and the
life of railroad tie, that was about nine
years when heart white oak was used,
is now only half that time, except when
by treatment with creosote or other pre-
servative the life is materially extended
The catalpa speciosa, it is claimed, con-
tains it's own preservative and will last
indefinitely, at least it's limit of life i:
not as yet ascertained. Instances are
given of catalpa ties sound and gooC
after thirty-one years OF service.
The capacity of wood to resist decay
under the conditions which surround
railroad tie determines only one ele.
ment of It's suitability for this service
It's capacity to resist indentation under
pressure is consideration quite as i'm.
portant The redwood of California.
which has been extensively used for ties
on the Pacific coast, is rapidly worn by
the grinding and pressure OF the rails on
the soft wood, aided by the sand which
finds it's way between the tie and the
rail. The power of western catalpa te
resist decay has been proved. Has its
to resist indentation under the
pressure of railroad doing
the business the Pennsylvania does also
been demonstrated?
This, says the Philadelphia Press, II
a most important matter. II, as is
claimed, catalpa trees can be grown in
16 years that will meet every requisite
of a good tie for 80 years or more,
grave problem confronting our rail.
roads is solved The Pennsylvania To-
Gust tree planting is experimental. II
convinced that the catalpa speciosa
promises better results, no doubt the
company will make its future planta-
lions of catalpas The locusts already
started will not be wasted. II they dc
not make as satisfactory ties as catalpa
heir timber is exceedingly durable, and
for posts, and, we might add, police
mems night sticks, 1t is the best possible
55ay.s~4--4zA 4+e. $s.s