The Washington herald., 1909-07-04

Southern States. II is one Of the first
steps toward the conservation OF the
great lumber resources of the South and
IS being worked out successfully at sew
eral points.
Among the larger wood preservative
concerns in the South may be mentioned
the American Creosote Works al New
Orleans. which has a capacity Of $1,000,
coo board feet per annurn At this works
lumber. piles. crossties. crossarms, and
telegraph poles are treated.
Another large plant has been estab-
lished al Galveston. Tex, where railroad
ties are the principal form Of the output.
with capacity of 1000 ties a week.
Another plant was formerly established
at Greeneville, Tex. which was recently
destroyed by fire and is being rebuilt
at Denison. Tex. on an enlarged scale
with the expectation that it Will be in
operation before the end OF the present
year.
a large plant is successfully operated
at Norfolk. Va.
Plants Controlled in Chicago.
Two plants. controlled by the Aver &
Lord Tie Company. of Chicago. are lOcat-
ed. one at Grenada, Miss, and the other
at Argenta, Ark At Argenta the output
is 1.250.000 ties. 100000 feet OF lumber and
10000 feet Of piling.
At the Grenada mill the output is 2.OG0,-
900 ties 100000 feet OF lumber and $4,000
hneal feet Of piling. The manager Of the
company writes to The Washington Her
aid that the company uses about 10000 900
gallons of creosote oil per annum. most
Of which is imported from Germany and
England. The creosote oil is brought to
New Orleans in tank steamers and is
stored there IN the company's tanks
which have capacity OF 1,25o,OOo gallons
II Is carried from New Orleans TO the two
plants as required in the work Of pre-
serving wood
Another large plant is at Beaumont,
Tex, which uses chloride Of zinc as well
as the dead oil of coal tar for an anti
ceptic agent with good results. The ca
pacity Of the Beaumont plant is 1O0OOO.Ooo
feet Of lumber per annum.
Processes Are Simple.
The system Of treating wood is compara-
lively simple In order to insure the best
results it must be conducted on strictly
methodical and systematic principles The
first and most essential thing. after Sc
lectinS timber Of equal cross sections, is
the seasoning process. Unless the wood
is thoroughly and properly seasoned the
work and cost Of treating will be inef-
fectuaL All fermenting properties in the
wood must be removed and their place
supplied with antiseptic oils or chemi-
calls or the remaining portion will fer
ment. causing dry rot which viii destroy
the durability Of the timber.
The seasoning process consists OF ad-
mitting the wood into a cylinder filed with
live steam under pressure. which is done 10
vapOrize the sap and wood acids The
steam Is retained until the sap cylinder
gauge shows all the sap TO be condensed
and removed. When this is accomplished
the steam is released the valves again
closed, the vacuum applied and held until
all moisture IS extracted and the wood
LETT in q porous condition.
While the vacuum IS being applied. su-
perheated steam IS constantly being cir
culated through over 5000 feet Of coils
lying on the bottom Of the cylinder This.
when the live steam is discharged and
vacuum applied. produces hot air and ex-
tracts the greater part OF the moisture
remaining in the wood and cylinder. The
wood is then ready for the preserving
fluid.
PreServntive Is Applied.
Immediately following the seasoning
process comes tho injection Of the pre-
servative. In conducting this process ele-
waited tanks are used. The working tanks
are elevated 70 a sufficient height and
with ample capacity Of discharge pipes TO
permit the rapid filling of the cylinder.
thus preventing unequal absorption. When
the cylinder Is filled the pressure pump is
put in action and continued until the re-
quired quantity Of the fluid is injected
into the wood. This information is OBJ
tained from carefully measured gauges
constructed for that purpose.
In creosoting, the treatment varies from
to "a pounds to the cubic foot TO suit
the different purposes for which the tim
Der is used.
From to 10 pounds if oil 10 the cubic
foot is used on railroad, bridge. or wharf
construction where the timber is framed
before treatment, that Is where all NOR
tising. boring. dapping, or cut-offs have
been previously made. Where this is not
done a larger quantity Of oil should be
the timber. such as round or sheet piling.
girts or sway braces. is intended for
marine use in the Gulf Of Mexico. Carib-
bean Sea, or other Southern waters, not
less than % TO "A pounds 10 cubic foot
should be used 10 make the treatment ef-
fective as against the ravages of the
teredo.
In order TO give this treatment without
injury TO the wood. shortleaf or sap pine
should be used. This character Of wood
fnsures perfect penetration without ma
terially lessening the strength Of the tim
Der Timber for similar use in Northern
waters Will prove satisfactory with a
lighter treatment Of oil. say from "A to IS
pounds per cubic foot. These quantities
of oil. It must be understood. are for the
pure dead oil. OF coal tar with no manip-
uiation or adulteration. Creosote Is used
almost exclusively in England and France
for the preservation of wood.
Treating with Zinc and Oil.
Zine and OIL Jointly as used in the Al
lardyce process. has been in use about
eight years A similar treatment has been
used in Germany for a sufficient length
Of time 10 demonstrate it's utility. It is
now used extensively in the treatment Of
ties throughout the German empire.
The Aliardyce process consists Of the
injection OF a solution OF TO 3 per cent
chloride Of zinc In proportion Of y pounds
TO the cubic foot. This is followed by a
second injection Of three pounds of dead
oil Of tar TO the cubic foot
Chloride Of zinc, while known as a
superior antiseptic and wood preserva-
tive, on account Of its solubility. Is OBJ
jectiOnable when used in a locality fire.
quented by continued or excessive mOis-
ture. But the injection Of dead oil fol-
lowing the permeation of the zinc solu-