Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1905-05-25
FORESTRY AND RAILROADS.
Wooden Tie-Plates Successfully Used
Under Advice from Bureau
Of Forestry.

Upon the advice of the bureau Of for
estry the Gulf. Colorado & Santa F4
railroad eight months ago began to ex-
pertinent with wooden tie-plates. These
plates are intended to protect the Tie
from wear under the rail. They are cut
the width OF the bottom Of the rail and
as long as the tie is wide-usually six
or seven inches-and are kept in place
by the weight OF the rail. in a fiat
groove in the tie. The results Of the
experiment are Of much interest both
to the railroads of the country and 10
those who have at heart the cause of
forest protection.
The Santa Fe placed cypress ti-plates
one-quarter Of an inch thick on several
thousand old and much-worn cypress
ties laid IN its tracks north of Galveston
Tex. After eight months Of constant
use the plates are perfectly sound and
show practically not a trace of wear.
The officials OF the road are greatly
pleased with the result Of this trial.
The bureau Of forestry will now make
similar experiments with red gum. red
oak, and beech tie-plates. which will he
placed in the tracks Of the St Louis q
San Francisco. the Burlington. and The
Northern Pacific systems. These are All
harder woods than cypress. and are
therefore less liable to wear under the
rails, but are much more subject 10
decay. The tie-plates made from these
woods viii therefore all be heavily creo-
soted This viii make them about as
resistant to decay as the untreated
cypress, while their much greater hard.
ness VIII better qualify them 10 reslst
the wear Of the rails.
For a number Of years cross-ties have
been treated with preservatives. and
tie-plates Of iron have been used 10 in
crease their length Of service. Tests are
constantly being made by the bureau OF
forestry to improve the character Of
the preservatiyes and the methods of
their application, and 10 enlarge the
number Of woods used for railroad con-
Etruction purposes. Experimenting
with wooden tie-plates is work along
the same economical line. in the inter-
est Of both the railroads and the forests.
The use OF tie-plate prevents wear on
the tie and adds years TO its service:
wooden tie-plates are being success
fully substituted for the more expen-
sive iron; and abundant and cheaper
woods, through preservative treatment
are becoming available 10 take the
place Of scarce and expensive woods
When a wooden tie-plate IS worn out
new one can be quickly and cheaply
inserted In its place In Europe these
plates cost but two dollars a thousand.
or two dollars for every 500 ties. since
two are used upon each tie Preserya-
tive treatm ent keeps the tie from eecay-
ing, the wooden tie-plate keeps IL from
wearing, and the use Of both will result
in a huge economy for the railroads
which viii react favorably upon our
forests. The whole subject Of cross-ties
economy was fully discussed by DR.. Her
mann Won Schrenk. OF the bureau Of for.
estry, in Bulletin No. 30. entitled Gross
Tie Forms and Rail Fastenlngs. with
Special Reference 10 Treated Timbers. :"
The present experiments ar in conunu-
anee Of Inns Of work threin Indicated.