Perth Amboy evening news., 1904-02-03
WOOD FOR RAILROAD TIES.
Respective Merits of the Locust and
CataIpn Trees-GrOwn by Rail-
way Companies.

Arb~oriculture, a monthly magazine
published in Indianapolis, in the interest
of the International Society of Abort
culture, devotes considerable space in a
recent issue to a consideration of the
Pennsylvania Railroad company's
project to raise locust trees on a 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. 1t says:
"'If 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 will break off, but cannot be
withdrawn. There is no more elasticity
in a locust tie than in east iron. In
track removals it will be found extreme
ly difficult and slow work with cross
ties of locust so much Sc as with metal
ties"
The ideal tree to grow for railroad
ties, in the opinion of Arboriculture, is
the catalpa speciosa. This is u 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 a short trunk, while both
The trunks and larger limbs are mere or
less crooked and not promising as tie
material. The Pennsylvania Railroad
company, we understand, experimental
with catalpa tree growing som 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 a hybrid. The llli-
nois Central railroad have some 200
900 catalpa trees growing near De Quoin,
Ill. The catalpa speciosa is a western
tree. 1t will be the subject OF a special
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 a 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-
s~ervative the life is materially extended.
The catalpa speciosa, 1t is claimed, con-
tains it's own preservatiye and will last
indefinitely, 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 to resist decay
under the conditions which surround
railroad tie determines only one ele-
ment of it's suitability for this service
Its capacity to resist indentation undei
pressure is a consideration quite as inn
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 OF
! the soft wood, aided by the sand which
/, finds its way between the tie and tn
rail. The power of western catalpa t
). resist decay has been proved. Has it
capacity to resist indentation under TIL
tremendous pressure of a railroad doint
the business the pennsylvania Goes alst
been demonstrated?
This, says the Philadelphia Press, il
a most important matter. If, as i:
claimed, catalpa trees can be grown II
:. 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 10
Gust tree planting is experimental. Il
convinced hat the catalpa species;
promises better results, no doubt tht
company will make its future planta,
lions of catalpas. The locusts alread,
started will not be wasted. If they d.
not make as satisfactory ties as catalps
their timber is exceedingly durable, ant
: for posts, and, we might add, police
mems night sticks. 1t is the best possible
: material.