The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-06-12
Million Cross Ties Purchased by
Roads Last Year.
Oak Is Generally Used for Its
Greater Durability.
SOME WOODS TREATED
Timber Not Naturally Durable
Is Made ServiceabIe.
Other Items of Interest in
Railway Circles.

Washington. June 12.-During the
year 1908, the steam and electric rail-
roads of the United States purchased
more than 100000 900 cross-ties, costing,
at the point of purchase, over $56,0O0,-
o00 an average of fifty cents per tie,
according to statistics just made public
by the bureau of census in cooperation
with the United States forest service.
This was sore 100000 ties less than
the quantity purchased in 1907, when
the total was approximately 153, 700, 900,
the highest ever recorded. The de-
ceased purchases in 1908 were, OF
course chiefly due to the business de-
preston which affected every line OF
roads to purchase only the ties which
were absolutely essential for renewals,
and heavily cut down the purchase for
new track. In 1908 only 7,431, OU0 cross
ties were reported as purchased for
new track as against %, 557, 900 in 1907.
OF the total number of ties purchased
for all purposes, the steam roads took
approximately ninety-four per cent,
leaving about six per cent for the cleo
trio roads.
1t is very interesting to note the wide
--~~Se of woods used for cross-ties. The
preliminary report by the census bu-
reau lists separately fifteen classes or
species. OF these the oaks are now and
have always been by far the most i'm
portant. The oak ties amounted to
more than $1,000 900, or forty-three per
cent Of the total quantity purchased
Next to these ranked the southern yell
low pines, with q, 100000, or nineteen
per cent of the total. 1t Will be seen
that the oaks and southern pines COM
bined furnished nearly three-tourthS OF
all the ties bought by the railroad COM
panies last year. Cedar and chestnut
supplied more than 100000 ties each,
and Douglas fir nearly as much. ABOUT
1000. 900 tamarack ties were purchased,
nearly $500, 900 cypress ties, and, IN
round numbers, 100000 each of west
ern pine and hemlock. Redwood, white
pine, Iodgepole pine, gum, beech,
spruce. and several other woods were
used in smaller quantities
While the oaks, and particularly the
white oaks, have always been the pre-
ferred woods for cross-ties and still
form a large proportion of the total, the
increasing prices which the roads nave
had to paw for satisfactory oak ties are
forcing them to look more and more for
substitutes. This accounts In part Tor
the great variety of woods reported
White oak, untreated, makes tie
which gives excellent service for many
years, but it has been found possible TO
take woods which naturally are NOT
durable. give them q treatment with
either ereosote or zinc chloride, Wh1ch
will prevent decay, and thus get mucn
longer service from them Illebh CAN NC
secured from untreated oak ties
Among the woods which have been
most largely treated so far are the vel
low pines. particularly loblolly pine,
Douglas fir, western pine, and lodge
pole pine.
This years statistics adds to the list
two kinds of cross-ties which previous
w had not been reported in sufficient
quantities to justify listing them
separately These are gum and beech
The purchases of gum ties in 1908 ex-
ceeded $50, 1000, while but slightly more
than $4,000 of them were reported in
the previous year. OF beech ties, the
purchases in 1908 amounted to nearly
i93. 600. against but little more than
81 900 in 1907 These are woods which
are distinctly not suitable for cross
ties unless they are given preservative
treatment. Their increased use, there
fore is one of the many results of the
progress of wood preservation in the
limited States. For many years beech
has been one of the principal cross-tie
woods in Europe, where its value when
given chemical treatment was long ago
recognized 1t is not uncommon for
European roads to secure from twenty
To thirty years service from beech
cross-ties Untreated they would not
last long enough to warrant their use
at aII-Report of U. S. Forest Service.