The Paducah sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1898-1906, 1906-04-12
CROSSTIE INDUSTRY
1T Is A GOOD FIELD FOR CARL
TAI AND A HUSTLER.
The Business One OF Great Magni-
tude and Not Very Widely
Spread.

Considering the thousands of miles
of railroads in the United States the
crosstie output of our forest demesne
is no mean item in our national
wealth. The wooden underpinning Of
the entire traction system OF America
must be renewed every six years, al
lowing that length Of time to the life
of the average tie. This work is GO
ing on constantly. requiring millions
of feet OF timber, and more millions
of dollars investment, in the aggre-
gate an enormous amount.
West Virginia, Kentucky, Tonnes
see. Arkansas. Mississippi these
states are great producers of the
crosstie. Virginia. the two Carolinas,
Georgia, Alabama, Florida, Texas,
Louisiana, Oklahoma and the Indian
Territory also number among their
products the lumber supports OF our
railways. Other states contribute in
lesser degree to the grand total.
White oak is the best material for
crossties, but other varieties OF hard
wood trees are available. Yellow oak.
burr oak. chestnut, chinquepin, even
locust, are suitable, while in the
south, the 'evergreens. pine and ey-
press, are largely used.
Some OF these woods must be che
mically treated to retard decay. of
course this adds to the price the
consumer must pay. transportation
facilities also are sometimes lacking.
necessitating extra expenditure In
that direction. AS a consequence our
railroads must reckon upon a con-
slant heavy drain on their finances
from their bureaus OF maintenance.
due to the replacing OF wornout ties
incidentally, the section bosses are
as a rule provided with fuel from this
source.
A great railroad system whose
trunk and auxiliary lines band the
continent decided TO purchase large
tracts of timber and waste land as re-
serves for the future. Their forester
will set out several million saplings
in the spring. from which they antic-
ipate great results later. In view OF
the fact that the supply Is rapidly
lessening in the face of an unprece-
dented demand. due to the inroads
OF the numerous interurban railways
and branch extensions. their action
shows foresight. Other roads have
followed suit on lesser scale. Now
much of the available timber lands
is under railroad control.
The dealer In crosstles requires
bark on a successful business career.
considerable capital in order to en-
He must buy ties wherever and oil
whomsoever he can secure them.
must buy them from farmers. who
add to their incomes by cutting and
trimming the logs at odd times must
buy the timber as 1t stands; must Sc
cure ieaseholds and concessions on
tracts OF scrub growth wherever ne
can profitably work the same. The
cost OF an oak tie will average 90
cents, cut and squared. on the prem
Uses where grown. Then by adding .
cents for transportation, total OF Al
cents. original cost to dealer.
His money will be tied up for one
year, on the average, before he car
make final disposition OF his ties
that is, from the time of purchase e
the time OF sale. At per cent tho
interest on his investment will add
cents to the cost of each tie. making
the cost price per tie ~ cents. H'
4 must receive SO cents each in ordel
TO realize decent profit. The rail
roads pay from so to 60 cents eaci
for their ties.
The pine tie Is slightly cheaper
originally, but 1t must be soaked IL
chemicals to prevent its dissolution
and in consequence will cost abou
the same amount.