Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-05-25
'L0BL0L[Y PINE TIES.
TREATING WITH PREsERvA. TIVE IMPROVES DURABILITY.
Bureau of Forestry Makes Study of Trees in East Texas-Finds Out How to Economize in Their
 Production.

A 6OUu cAhIuplc LII Wu6J IS DeluS OOue along the most practical lines by the bureau of forestry of the United States department of agriculture, or the forest service as its designation will become on July 1, 1905, is furnished by the re. suits of a study of loblolly pine In east Texas which 1t has recently made.
 One of the chief purposes for which loblolly is now used in the Gulf states is for railroad ties The wood is not dur able and the tie in it's natural state is short-lived. but by preservative treat ment it can be made to resist decay for a number of years. The discovery that treated lotlolly pine is an excellent sub- stitute for longleaf for railroad ties is greatly to the benefit of the railroads.
 Loblolly pine is found in commercial quantities in ten counties of east Texas. where 1t covers an area of nearly 2,S80.- GOO acres. and is hewn into cross ties on a larger scale than in any other state. The magnitude of this industry results from an abundant supply of loblolly pine in sizes just suited for pole ties. It is estimated that from 75 to 80 per cent. of the present loblolly stand in Texas is timber of tie size. the remainder being large enough for lumber The prepon- 'derance of comparatively young and small timber is due principally to severe storms in 1865 and 1873 which overthrow the old pine on many thousands of acres and establish new stands.
 Three counties in east Texas--Orange. Jasper and Newton-furnish annually from 100000 to 100000 hewn loblolly pine ties. The trees cut tor ties vary ;n size from II to 17 inches in diameter, measured breasthigh. The hewers pre- fer diameters of 12. 13 and IA inches as the smaller the tree. above tie specifica- tions, the less the labor in squaring 1t. The largest number taken are 13 inches in diameter. This practice is very wasteful for the average tree II inches in diameter is about 35 years old and Is growing rapidly The average yearly increase in value between II and 13 inches is over per cent. and from 13 to 14 inches 5.5 per cent After the latter size is reached growth falls of SO fast that for the next inch of growth the in crease averages only 25 per cent. and at 16 inches the value for hewn ties ceases to increase.
 These facts point out the rule which the owner should follow in selling trees for ties. Those Il. ,l2 and 13 inches in diameter are growing so rapidly both in size and value that to cut them con- sumes the capital that is bringing him the best rate of interest. The tiemaker should be confined to 14, 15 and 16-inch diameters. Trees above 16, inches should be preserved until they can be proftably felled for lumber.
 Thesedpption of thie rule wtN De best for Tho owner and for the productive future of the forest as well. twill how ever necessitate a complete change fin the method of getting out ties as they will have to be sawed instead of hewed. But this too would be a gain for both owner and forest, since hewing is very wasteful method of tie production. Un- der 1t many of the larger trees are cut