The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1907-01-31
Telephone and telegraph Poles.

experiments TOWARD economy IN the use
of a Product which Must Maintain
soo,o Miles Of Lines.
With the life of telephone and tele-
graph poles at its present limit, the
100000 miles of existing lines, requir-
ing $4,000 600 poles, must be renewed
approximately four times before trees
suitable to- take their place Can grow.
A pole lasts in service about twelve
years, on the average, but is made
from tree about 60 years old. In
other words, to maintain a continuous
supply FIVE times as many trees must
be growing in the forest as there are
pO.es in use. The severity of this drain
upon forest resources by the telephone
and telegraph companies is obvious
enough. just as in the case of railroad
ties, the question of pole supply has
thrust itself into prominence. To
lengthen the life of poles, and in this
way to moderate demand and conserve
future supplies, has become an impor-
tant matter, affecting the public as
well as private interests.
Since 1902 the Forest Service has
been making a thorough study of the
preservative treatment of poles and of
the value of the seasoning in relation
to treatment. In this work it's first
object has been, as in its studies of
cross-ties and construction timbers, to
make the timber last as long as posi-
bic, SO as to check the annual demand
for renewal and thus lesson SO far as
possible the drain upon the forest.
Cooperating with telephone and tele-
graph companies, railroads, lumber
companies, and individuals, it has
urged forward series of experiments
covering all phases OF the problem,
from the question of the best season
for cutting, through subsequent stages
of handling, to the final setting of the
pole. Some of the most important re-
suits obtained deal with the seasoning
process.
Seasoning was studied in the first
place to determine the rate at which
poles become air dry, that is, lose as
much moisture as they will part with
through evaporation in the open air.
The time of cutting was also carefully
poles cut in winter dry more regularly
than those cut at other seasons, and al
SO show a greater loss in moisture at
the end of six months seasoning. The
advantages of winter cutting are,
therefore, even drying, with minimum
liability to check, aud light Weight-an
obvious advantage for shipment by
freight. Spring or summer cutting Sc
cures more rapid loss of moisture at
first, owing to the temperature, but
only for three or four months. AT the
end of from six to eight months spring
and summer cut poles are found to
have dried only quarters as much
as winter-cut poles. Spring and sum-
mer cutting, however, would result in
saving in freight and increased durabil-
ity if the poles are to be shipped and
used within three or four months after
cutting.
The second point to be determined
was the degree of shrinkage in circum-
ference during air seasoning. This was
found to be very slight, averaging but
little over .05 per cent at the butt and .06
per cent at the top. The rapid shrink
age of wood does not begin until the
percentage of moisture is reduced low
er than is possible in the case of tele-
phone and telegraph poles in out-Ot- door
seasoning.
The effect of soaking in water upon
the rate of seasoning was the third of
the problems dealt with. The expert
ments. substantiate the common opinion
that poles soaked from two to four
weeks subsequently season at a
materially increased rate.
Finally, it was found that checking in
the course of seasoning is not serious
when poles have been carefully cut.
Rapid-grow timber, however, when
SO carelessly cut as to leave jagged ends,
was found to split badly at the butt and
a. the top. This is doubtless merely the
stick partially broken off instead Of
being cut clear through.
just how much thorough seasoning
will add to the life of poles can not be
told until the actual tests are are made
/ in service. The poles upon which the
tests-are being made have been set in
, line where their behavior can be COM
pared with that of unseasoned poles,
and will be closely watched. Upon a
number of the seasoned poles test was
also made to show the value of various
preservative treatments, which is ex-
pected to throw additional light on the
subject of durability.