Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1909-02-25
RAILROADERS STUDY
WOOD PRESERVING.
Jointly Act to Conserve the
Rapidly oimlnlshlns Supply OF
Timber.

The recent action by the Board OF
Directors of the American Railway
Engineering and Maintenance Of Way
Association in appointing committee
Of seventeen to investigate and report
upon the subject of wood preserva-
ton has shown that the practical
railroad men of the country recognize
the Importance of taking steps to
conserve the rapidly diminishing tim
ber supply of the United States.
Timber is one of the principal ma
terials purchased by the railroads
and its economical use is subject
of far reaching Importance. More
than 100000 900 crossties are used
annually by the different railroad
companies, and their average life In
this country is not more than six or
seven years. From study OF Euro-
pean methods and the knowledge OF
wood preservation under conditions
in this country, timber testing engi-
neers say 1t is reasonably certain that
an average life of from fifteen to
twenty years may be secured by treat
ing the tie with a good preservative
and the use of improved devices for
the prevention of mechanical abra-
sion, thus to a large degree diminish
ing the drain upon the timber supply.
While the quantity Of timber used
for ties is very great and the problem
Of a future supply is d serious one,
yet this class of timber Is not the only
one which should receive considera-
ton. A greater length of service
from timber now used by railroads
for bridges, trestles, piles. fences and
transmission poles is greatly to be
desired.
A. L..Kuehn, engineer of track and
roadway, Cleveland. Cincinnati, Chi
cago and st. Louis Railway, is chair
man of the special wood preservation
committee, and c. G. Crawford. spe-
cialist in wood preservation, United
States Forest Service, is its vice-chair-
man. The first meeting was held In
Chicago in the early part Of last
month for the purpose of organizing
and deciding upon a plan of work.
The committee was divided into four
subcommittee to take up the fol-
lowing lines Of work:
Statistics and Economics o.
Chaunite. consulting engineer. Chi
cago, ILL.,. chairman: "Preservatives
and Specifications. II. Won Schrenk,
consulting engineer, st. Louis. chair
man: "Adaptability of Woods and
Their Preparation" w. X. HIATT. civil
engineer, Forest Service, Lafayette.
Ind. chairman; Treating Processes.
C. G. Crawford, specialist in wood
preservation. Forest Service, Wash
ington, D. c., chairman.
This American Railway Engineer
ing and Maintenance of Way Associa-
tion now consists of about 900 mem-
bers, representing 100000 miles of
railroad track and including among
its membership the leading railroad
engineers of the country. The object
of the association is the advancement
OF knowledge pertaining to the scien-
tific and economical construction. op-
Grafton and maintenance of railroads.
The method employed to obtain this
information is through standing COM
mittees appointed by board Of direc-
tors. Each committee Is appointed
to investigate special subject and to
report at each annual meeting the re-
suits of it's investigation, followed by
recommendation which are published
in "The Manual Of Recommended
Practice" after they have been
adopted by the association.