Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1906-07-25
Utilization Of Fire.killed Timber
Colorado,

Utilization Of Fire.killed Timber In
Colorado.
Although it has been known for
number of years that fire-killed timber
has considerable value in railroad
and mining operations in Colorado,
it has been brought out only recently
by the Forest Service that wide
number of uses are open for this tim
Der, and that in certain respects it has
actual advantages over green wood.
These facts are deduced from study
of conditions on the Pixies Peak Forest
Reserve, where the ravages of fire
have been particularly widespread and
destructive. In many instances the
burned timber is the only kind avail
able at particular point, for example,
in proximity to mine or a spur of
railroad so for timbers and ties the
dead material has been used for many
years-fifteen years at Palmer Lake,
seven years at Florissant for railroad
ties, and longer than this for mine
timbers Three years ago it was first
used for box boards and has proved
excellent In May, 1905 there was
sale for telephone poles.
The species used are red fir. yellow
pine, lodgepole pine, Timber pine,
range pine, pinon, Engelmann spruce,
and blue spruce. OF these, the pines.
red fir. and Engelmann spruce furnish
the bulk of the material. Time
elapsed since burning seems to make
no great difference in the value of the
wood, except that when serious check
ing results it loses its value for box
purposes. The timber used has been
burned all the way from three to fifty
five years.
The amount of this timber which
has been used is very considerable.
There has been one sale from the re-
serve for box boards and one for tele-
phone poles, but the three main uses
continue to be for mine timbers, rail-
road ties, and firewood.
Red fir is preferred for railroad ties,
then yellow pine, timber pine, and
range pine. White pine has been OBJ
jected to because of its lack of dur
ability. but it is now taken in many
places. At RosemOnt, Colo, burned
timber of all kinds is made into ties,
some of the material having been
burned fifty years ago. 1t is asserted
that dry ties last as long as green ties
and in many cases longer. On Cripple
Greek "short line' they were more
satisfactory than green pine ties from
Texas. Dry ties hold a spike well,
and tie plate does not cut into the
wood so seriously as it does in the
case of green tie. Engelmann spruce
is as good as other species as far as
mechanical wear is concerned, but it
decays much quicker and so should be
given preventative treatment.
Burned timber was first used for
boxes by the Denver Crate and Box
Company in February, 1903, the species
used being Engelmann spruce and
lodgepole pine, with some red fir and
timber pine. The material used had
been burned from one and one-half to
four years. The Engelman spruce
was excellent, and the lodgepole also
gave good results. The fire seasoning
had driven the odor out of the pine so
that it could be used for packing
crackers and biscuits. Also, on account
OF the perfect seasoning the boxes re-
manned tight when put up and there
fore sold better than green boxes.
For mine timbers all species are used
if of the requisite size. Dry timber
is preferred because Of its lightness,
durability, and stiffness, all principally
due to its better seasoning.
<For many purposes fire-killed timber
should be preferred to green timber
because it is so we'll seasoned. This
seasoning makes it more durable than
green timber, and also makes it ligh-
ter. so that its cost Of transportation
is appreciably less, and it is there ore
available. not only for numerous local
uses. but for shipping long distances.
Actual experience with the fire killed
timber proves that it's utilization
should be source of profit
to the reserve.
| Remember we are giving a prize
package with every dollars worth of
goods purchased from our iewaIry