The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-09-08

one-fifth were southern yellow pine, and the rest were cedar, cypress, redwood, tamaraeN hemlock, western yellow pine. and other woods which until recently were seldom used for ties because they were considered inferior or were hard to get
 Oak which still supplies almost half tie demand, formerly supplied nearly all Tha rapid extension of railroads calls for more tie timber every year. while every year the forests are less able to furnish the required oak.
 White oak has always been regarded by railroads as ideal tie material. It resists decay, holds spikes firmly, and. although perhaps higher in price, it is an economi- cal wood for ties when it can be had because it lasts longer than cheaper tim Der, so that the cost of relayinG is less.
 Cannot Meet Demand.
 But the time has come when the enor- nous demand for oak cannot be met Wide use and excessive waste have brought about this state of affairs Rail- roads We're eXtravagant and tie makers were wasteful. The forests were skinned of -he very trees that should have been left to grow to large size and become much more valuable for other uses. h. stead of cutting mature trees which if left would not greatly increase in size or value, the tie industry demanded and
 
 only wasting the present forest. but great ly reducing the immediate prospective supply. This was poor economy, and the railroads and the country generally are feeling the consequences.
 The railroads, though still able to pro- cure enough ties of some kind, see a shortage in the future and are taking steps to meet it. They are using all tim Der that can be made to answer The tie makers. being in immediate touch with the scarcity of trees, are now cutting more closely, and are using tops. which were formerly left to rot or burn in the woods. Where it is practicable to do so, they are saving the trees instead of hewng them, and so lessenng the waste In order to make the best use of what they have, railroads are treating ties with chemicals to increase their life in service. Several years-with some kinds or wood as much as twenty years-are thus added to the life of the tie Inferior woods are the very ones which best take such treatment.
 Economic Result.
 This is an economy which comes as direct result of the increasing scarcity of good tie material. It is a timely econ om. also, for 1t tends to save the grow in,y forests without depriving the rail- roads of what they need. By taking the 'Ne'N' furnishing valuable object lesson to the public, showing the old order of waste and extravaganza is a thing of the past and that the products of the forests may be so husbanded as to offset the increas- inS shortage.
 The railroads, in some cases are going still further in wise economy. They are purchasing tracts whose timber will come into market after awhile for ties. Some of the transportation companies are plant ing trees in large numbers, anticipating needs many years hence. The Pennsyl- Vania railroad and the Delaware and Hud- son railway have Ioresters employed to work out the problem of tie supply to thf best advantage
 A satisfactory substitute for the wood en tie has not been found, and probably wi- not be found. Railroads understand that the supply must grow and that it's growth requires many years