Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1905-08-04
PRESERVE TELEGRAPH POLES
Efforts of the Big Companies to Pre-
vent Decay in Point First
Attacked.

For the last two years the bureau Of
forestry has been cooperating with the
American Telephone and Telegraph CON-
pany and recently with the Postal Tele-
graph-Cable company also, in an expert
mental study TO increase the durability
of telegraph and telephone poles The
interest in this matter taken by these
corporations promises an important for
est economy through the possibility of
using smaller trees than are now used
for poles. This means new market
for these smaller trees, liberating the
larger ones for other uses, says the
Western Electrician.
The length of service of a telegraph
or telephone pole is determined in 6.
section OF the pole not more than foot
and half long. In standing pole this
section extends about six or eight inches
above and below the top of the ground.
This is the universal point of attack
upon the life of the poles. Decay sets
In at the ground line and reaches both
up and down the pole, but only so far
as the conditions exist which promote
the growth Of Notwithstanding fungi.
A few inches below the ground there Is
lack OF the necessary oxygen and heat.
while at the same distance above ground
the requisite moisture fails. The exact
time at which decay begins it's work
depends upon the climate, the character
OF the soil and similar conditions. In
a not, moist climate it ordinarily sets
In with great rapidity. But at best,
In a very few years after the pole is
set, the struggle has commenced. The
decay soon girdles the pole and grad
ually eats into it deeper and deeper, I'M
til 1t is so weakened that 1t breaks un-
der the weight of its equipment.
The experiments already made by the
bureau show conclusively that poles may
be subjected to a preservative treat
ment which insures materially length
ened service. This treatment consists
In impregnating the wood with antisep-
tics which prevent the growth Of the
fungi that cause decay. The treatment
OF telephone and telegraph poles, when
attempted at all In this country, gen.
orally has been applied to the whole
pole, requiring the use of alright cylin-
ders lOO feet long or more. The poles
are subjected to live steam for some
time, when vacuum is created. Creo-
sote is then run in and pressure Is ap-
piled to force 1t into the wood. Mani
testify this is a laborious process. Yet
for telephone and telegraph poles only
about one foot of the entire length
needs to be made immune from fungus
lfthis foot at the fatal ground line can be
preserved from decay. the rest of the
pole can take care of itself Expert
ments will now be made in treating
the butts of the poles for q. distance of
eight feet. thus carrying antiseptics
just beyond the zone of decay attack.
The creosote method will be used. and
dead oil of coal tar forced through the
butt of the poles.
Antiseptics prevent, for the time Of
their effectiveness, the starting of the
decay, and thus permit at the outset the
selection of an efght-inch diameter,
rather than 12-inch. The four inches
saved represent great difference in
the size and age of trees used for poles
Both the companies and the owners Of
the forests will be gamers by the econ
omy, with its shortening of the length
of time necessary to grow pole.
Another feature Of the cooperative
work will be the treatment Of the cross
arms. The companies have been treat
ing them, but they report too much alb
sorption in some cases, and not enough
in others. The bureau will more care
fully grade the different kinds of wood
and treat each class separately. In this
1t Is expected to secure more equal alb
sorption and more satisfactory results.
These are the main points covered by
the contracts, though in addition the bu-
reau will furnish information on the
supply Of pole timber and such general
advice as may be suggested by the CO.
operative work.