The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1909-03-27

cd their dead are still preserved in
perfect condition after thousands ol
years of service.
The longevity of timber under these
two extremes of climate and moisture
conditions has naturally made people
ask. What causes wood decay? The
answer is. fungi and bacteria, low
forms of plant life which live In the
wood and draw their nourishment
from It, The little organisms are SC
little that a microscope is required to
sec them. yet their work results In the
destruction of billions Of feet OF timber
each year and the railroad corporation
with its cross tie bill running UP into
seven figures and the farmer who
spends hundred or so dollars a wear
for fence posts are alike drawing upon
the knowledge Of experts in all parts
OF the world In efforts 10 learn the
most economical and most satIsfac.
tory method OF. preserving wood
against the inroads of decay. In study.
Ing the means Of preventing decay
wood-preserving experts have learned
many things about the obnoxious fungi
which sap the life of timber.
The small organisms can grow eth
er In light OF in total darkness. but all
OF them require requisite amounts of
air. food, moisture and heat II one
OF more OF these essential require.
ments is lacking, they can not live,
and the decay OF timber will not take
place. Wood constantly submerged in
water never rots, simply because
there Us an insufficient supply OF air.
This condition accounts for the sound
ness of the old Baltic piles. On the
other hand. If wood can be kept air
dry II will not decay because there will
then be too little moisture The tim
Der used by the Egyptians Will last
Indefinitely so long as it is bone-dry
There are a great many cases. how
ever, where 1t is impossible TO keep
wood submerged in water, or In an
absolutely air-dry condition. In fact.
large percentage Of the timber which
Is used is exposed to the weather and
Is subjected to decay simply because
II contains enough air and enough
water for the decomposing organisms
TO get foothold. Decay is most seri-
GUS where the atmosphere is warm
and damp. because these conditions
are most favorable for its develop.
ment. In the coal mines OF Pennsyl-
vania timber decays In two or three
years because the temperature is
warm and constant and the air is
damp. And In the south, the warm,
humid atmosphere often causes the
timber to rapidly decompose.
Decay may be prevented by two
general methods. by treating the wood
with antiseptics, thus poisoning the
food supply of the organisms which
cause decay and by treating II with
oils which render it waterproof A
combination Of these two methods is
most commonly used. as when wood is
treated with creosote which fills up
the pores In the timber and keeps out
water and is also a powerful antisep-
tic.
The United States government con-
siders the investigations of the pre-.
servative treatment of timber of such
Importance that the business Of one
group Of men In the forest service Is
given over entirely to the work of ex-
periments in cooperation with rail-
road companies and individuals in pro-
longing the life Of railroad ties, mine
props, bridge timbers, fence posts and
poles. Advice and prac,
tical assistance is furnished all who
request this advice of the district for
ester at Ogden. The lengthening Of
life of timber means the saving of
thousands of dollars annually through
doing away with the heavy expense of
labor and cost of material for re.
newals.