Williams news., 1907-08-10
TREATMENT OF TIMBER

directions-cost of equipment, of materials and labor, and of trans portation-is being affected by the introduction of what is krown as the "open- tank" method of treat ing timber. The general practice of preserving timber has hitherto been retarded by the heavy cost of | closed retorts al nd other complicated | equipment ordinarily used and the need of experienced men to operate them. Not until the kinds of | timber long used and considered almost indispensa for certain purposes grew scarce and rose mingly in price did wood users consider seriously the possibility of consuming less wood by making it last longer.
 As a rule preserving plants have been located at lumber centers, where a large business might be expected, and 1t has often been necessary to pay transportation charges to and from the treating plant on timber needed for local uses, such as for ties, posts, and poles. The equipment of the open tank method, which consists of an open tank, capable of withstanding heat and either equipped with steam coils or so arranged that fire can be placed underneath, is so simple and comparatively so cheap that it is within reach of the smaller companies, contractors and farmers. The fact that it is port able gives it distinctive value, since it can be taken, if necessary, into the heart of the forest, and even into the mountains.
 One of the chief advantages of the opent tank process is that it can be effectively applied to parts of timbers which are especially sub ject to rapid decay, such as the butts of fence posts and teleL hone poles, without wasting preserva
 tives on other parts. It is also especially adapted to the treatment of mine props, small dimension timbers, crossties, piling, and shingles, and timbers in small sizes of loblolly pine, black and tupelo gum, western yellow pine, and lodgepole pine, and similar
 kinds of wood. Fairly good results have been obtained in the treat
 ment of arborvitae, chestnut, and
 red oak, but the experiments thus
 far do not warrant the application
 of the method to the treatment of
 piling and ties made of these ? woods.
 P The open tank treatment is being rapidly developed, and while it ordinarily does not secure so
 deep a penetration of the chemicals
 as the retorts 1t is sufficiently thorough to protect timber for practical purposes in many situa- tions, and it is probable that future experiments will further extend its ' application.
 Circular 1O1, just issued by the
 Forest Service, United States De Q partinent of Agriculture, describes :. and illustrates the open-tank ! equipment It can be had upon
 application to the Forester, United States Department of Agriculture
 An Optimist
 ] An erring husband who was
 won't to tread with dalliant steps the primpose paths and to pursue l. elusive happiness until it was e brought to bay in the gilded halls of Haunting vice was one early , morn being berated by his long r suffering spouse in the most caustic and condemnatory language.
 "You beast! You drunken brute !! You low down scoundrel and libertine You have no more e honor than a hog! You are unfit n to associate with decent people!
 You oontemptible dogl You are e totally devoid of principle or decency."
 At the conclusion of the harangue ;, George braced himself up against U the side of the door and. smiling