The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1904-04-11
WOOD FoK RAILkOAD llAs.
Respective Merits Of the Locust and
CataIpa Trees--Crown by Rail-
way Companies.


Arboriculture, a monthly magazine
published IL Indianapolis. in the interest
Of the International Society Of Abori-
culture. devotes considerable space il a
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 Il for railroad
ties. II says:
III locust is used for ties the holes
must be bored. When a spike is once
driven into a locust and the wood sea-
soned It VIII break on. but cannot be
withdrawn. There is NO more elasticity
in locust tie than IN cast iron. In
track removals It viii Be found extreme
ly difficult and SLOW work with cross
ties Of locust so much SO as with metal
ties
The ideal tree to grow Tor railroad
ties. IN the opinion OF ArboricuIture, is
the catalpa spcciosa. This is a quick
growing, tall. upright foresttree. There
are number n species and varieties.
and when they grow near the speclosa
they readily hybridize. and the trees
raised from such seeds are disappoint-
Ing. Most OF the catslpa seen In this yi-
cinlty have a shor, trunk. while both
the trunks and larger limbs are more or
less crooked and not promising as tie
material. The Pennsylvania Railroad
company, we understand. experimental
with catalpa tree growing some years
ago. but Il was disappointed with the re-
suit, for the reason, Arborieulture
states. that their trees were not he ca
alpa specsosa. but a hybrid The Illi-
nois Central railroad have some 200,-
00e catalpa trees growing near De Quoin,
Ill The catalpa speciosa is a western
tree. II will be the subject Of a special
exhibit al the st. Louis exposition, under
the Auspices OF the International Society
cf Arhoricuiture.
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 a railroad tie. that was about r.ae
years when heart white oah was used,
Is now only half that time, except when,
BY treatment with creosote or other pre-
seryafive the life IS materially extended.
The catalpa speciosa, 1t is claimed, con-
tains its own preservatiye and will last
at least its limit of life IS
not as yet ascertained. Instances are
given Of catalpa ties sound and good
after thirty-one years Of service.
The capacity Of wood 10 resist decay
under the conditions which surround a
railroad tie determines only one ele-
ment Of its suitability for this service.
Its capacity 10 resist indentation under
pressure is a 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, aidee by the sand which
finds its way between the tic and the
rail. The power OF western catalpa to
resist decay has been proved Has it,
capacity TO resist indentation under the
pressure OF a railroad doing
the business the Pennsylvania does also
been demonstrated?
This. says the Philadelphia Press. IS
most important matter II, as is
catalpa trees can be grown in
IL years that viii meet every requisite
Of a good tie for 30 years or more, q
grave problem confronting our rail-
roads Is solved. The Pennsylvania's To-
Gust tree planting IS experimental. II
that the catalpa speciosa
promises better results. no doubt the
company will make its future planta-
lions OF catalpas The iccusts already
started will not be wasted. II they DO
not make as satisfactory ties rs tatalpa
heir timber is exceedingly durable. and
Tor posts. and. we might add. police
mems night sticks. It Is the best possible