New-York tribune., 1909-03-07
RA[LROADTIES WANTED
Timber Nearly Erhausted-Fortune
for InUentOr of Substitute.

Washington. March 6-A fortune is awaiting the
inventor who will make a railroad tie out Of soma
material other than hard wood that will be just
as lasting Just as resilient and Just strong.
At the present rate Of consumption-destrUction
would be a better word-aI the tie timber now
standing in the United States will be exhausted
in a very few years and the railroad companies
will be obliged TO import their ties from abroad
at prohibitive prices. White oak, the best wood
yet found for the making Of ties, is becoming so
scarce that the railroads can hardly afford 70
buy It for the purpose and, in consequence, many
of them turning their attention TO other KINDS
Of timber and 10 various preseTvatives that Will
increase the life Of the wood they have in stock
Few OF the millions Of passengers who annually
ride on the railroads the United States stop
to think Of the tremendously important part that
the humble tie plays in providing for their COM
fort and convenience The putting engine that
speeds the passenger to his destination IS slave
20 the two steel rails that insure safe and smooth
road and these rails in their turn depend upon
the oId-fashioned wooden cross tie which holds
them in place. Duru~ the last two or three years
the railroads Of the country have used from one
hundred and ten million 20 one hundred and hfty
million ties annually. Oak has made about 70 per
cent Of these ties; Southern pine little less than
% per cent and Douglas FIR. cypress. tamarack,
heuIock cedar. beech and other experimental
woods the remainder
Cedar which IS very durable. would make an
ideal tie II not soft. but may he used 20
advantage II aided by the Of tie plates and
other protective devices. Cedar. like oak. how
ever IS becoming very scarce. With the exception
Of durability beech possesses all the qualities OF
good tie wood, and the railroad companies are
making exhaustive experiments in certain parts or
TIE country in the hope OF finding preservatives
that will increase its life In Germany and
France according 10 a report recently made puoUc
nv the Forest Service beech ties have been success
fuIIv preserved from decay, and are now being
used very extensively. Beech Is found widely dis
trtbuted throughout the eastern part Of the United
States and at the present time is comparatively
cheap and abundant r. therefore. the railroads
whose lines are situated In the regions where
beech IS abundant can make use OF this Wood
treated with some suitable preservatlve. anotleF
source Of supply OF tie timber Will be opened UP.
stuupage values have been increasing so rapidly
during the last few years that many railroads
bavs found Il necessary 10 modify their tiF1loer
policv and they yearly apply preServatiEes 10 q
greater number OF ties and to more kinds or WOOD
substitute woods naturally vary with diIIerel'
sections of the country. but in most cases they
lack the two essential qualities found IN white odA'
namely resistance 10 mechanical wear and 10
decay Experience proves that wear can De sue
cegsF,IIy retarded by the Of tie plates ana
other mechanical devices. and decay can De posi-
poned bv the application Of proper preserVau'eS'
The new conditions have made 1t necessary IOL
r,orv railroad companies 10 meet the problem OF
,rsservatlon by establishing treating plants at
central points of distribution along their mes