The Lamar register., 1905-11-01

Suogus Attacks or Telegraph Poles
The length of service OF n telegraph
..s telephone pole is determined in
section of the pole not more than
.slQt or a foot and a half long. In
standing pole this section extends
.snout six or eight inches above and
below the top of the ground. This
IS the universe! point of attack upon
sac tifes;of ttre Iete. and is called its
iefeah3ng FO4sS. Deray is the arch
enemy Of these poles. II sets in at the
ground line aRd reaches both up and
flown fthe pole. but only so far as the
conditions exist which promote the
growth OF wood-desttoying fungi.
ssew inches below the ground there is
sack Of he4peeessary oxygen and heat,
while, at about tie same distance
above, ground the requisite moisture
.sails. THE exact time at which decay
a,eegins its work. depends upon the eli
..aate. the character OF the soil and
similar conditions IA hot. moist
climate IT. ordinarily sets in with
..ereat rapidity. bat at best. in n very
Sew years after the pole is set the
jh'rugsle has commenced. The decay
..scon girdles the pole and gradually
eats into it deeper aud deeper until it
.'s so weakened that It breaks under
.'hc weight OF It's equipment.
The strain upon the pole from wind
..ressure and the weight of its cross
ARMS and wires is calculated for the
ground line. When the diameter OF
..this ground line is constantly de-
,creased. the strength of the pole is
iproportioDately reduced, and it be
comes only n question OF time when
the pole must fall Chestnut and white
cedar have been found among avail
ahie woods. most successfully to resist
decay. but the life Of the former is
only from twelve to fifteen years. and
OF the latter ten 70 twelve years. The
Cooperative study Of The bureau is for
'ile purpose of extending. II possible
this time
The experiments already made by
;he United States Forestry Bureau
show conciusively that poles can be
subjected to a preseryative treatment
which insures materially heightened
service. This treatment consists in i'm
rrcgnatipg the wood with antiseptics
which prevent the growth of the fungi
that cause decay. The treatment of
telegraph and telephone poles. when
attempted at all Ia this country, gen.
orally has been applied to the whole
cole. requiring the use Of air-tight cyl
'aders 100 feet long or more. In these
the poles are subjected to live steam
for some time. when vacuum is ere.
ated. Creosote Is then run in and
pressure applied 10 force it into the
sppd. sManifestly this is n laborious
process. Yet for telegraph and tele-
ahone poles only about one foot of the
lA.. e.. L.,
snune from fungus. II this foot at the
fatal ground linc can lie preserved
trQm decay. the rest Of the pole will
take care OF Itself Experiments will
.,ow nbe made in treating the butts
Of the poles for a distance of about
eight feet. thus carrying the antisep.
,ics just beyond the zone of decay
attack. The creosote method will be
used and dead oil oil coal tar forced
!aruush'the butt of the pole.
The telegraph companies have made
'ittie use of preservative treatment
They employ millions Of poles on their
various lines. and it would be n trc-
@endous ccopemy to add even a few
yeass of service 10 the life OF each
sole. But there will he another large
saving both TO them and to the forest
through preservativc treatment To
rrovide good margin against decay
noles are nov much larger than de-
"anded by the strain upon them. 1t
Is expected that decay viii quickly cat
away iurrow around the pole at the
sround line. aud the diameter of the
pole at that point is sauGed to allow
.Or this weakening process When it
Is known that decay. in certain num-
Ter of years. cuts the diameter from
perhaps II 10 9 inches. and that below
inches the weakened pole falls, the
course 60 he pursued is obvious Anti
'aeptics prevent. for the time of their
effectiveness. the starting of decay.
aud thus permit at the outset the Sc
lection of an 8incl, diameter rather
.han 12-inch The 4 inches saved
represent tremendous difference in
the size and age Of trees used for
COLES, Both the companies and the
owners OF forests will be great gamers
10y this economy. Wit, its shortening
Of the length Of time necessary to
EroW uole.