The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1909-04-09
TIGHTENING LIFE OF WOOD
Process May Be Obtained from forestry
Department

Piles driven by the hut jewellers Of
the Baltic centuries ago are as sound
today as when first placed. The wood
collins in which the Egyptians buried
their dead are still preserved in perfect
condition after thousands of years Of
service.
The longevity Of timber under these
two extremes of climate and moisture
conditions has naturally made people
ask, what causes wood to 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 so small
that microscope is required to see
them, yet their work results in the de-
struction 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 year
for fence posts, are alike drawing upon
the knowledge Of experts in all parts of
the world in efforts to learn the most
economical and most satisfactory meth
cd Of preserving wood against the in
roads of decay. In studying the means
of preventing decay wood-preserving
experts have learned many things con-
corning the obnoxious fungi which sap
the life Of timber.
The small organisms can grow either
in light or in total darkness; but all of
them require requisite amounts of air,
food, moisture and heat. If one or
more Of these essential requirements is
lacking they can not live, and the de-
cay of timber will not take place.
Wood constantly submerged in water
never rots, simply because there is an
insufficient supply OF air. This condi-
ton accounts for the soundness OF the
old Baltic piles. On the other hand,
if wood can be kept air dry it will not
decay because there will then be too
little moisture. The timber used by
the Egyptians will last indefinitely so
long as it is bone dry.
There are a great many cases, how
ever, where it is impossible to keep
wood submerged in water, or in an abb
solutely air-dry condition. In fact a
large percentage of the timber which
is used is exposed to the weather, and
is subjected to decay simply because
it contains enough air and enough
water for the decomposing organisms to
get foothold. Decay is most serious
where the atmosphere is warm and
damp, because these conditions are
most favorable for its development. In
the coal mines of Pennsylvania timber
decays in two or three years because
the temperature is warm and constant
and the air is damp. 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 it 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 antiseptic.
The United States government con-
siders the investigation Of the preserva-
tive treatment of timber of such i'm
portance that the business of one group
of men in the forest service is given
over entirely to the work Of expert
ments in cooperation with railroad
companies and individuals in prolong-
ing the life of railroad ties, mine props,
bridge timbers, fence posts and trans
mission poles. Advice and practical
assistance is furnished all who request
this advice of the district forester at
Portland, Oregon. The frightening Of
the life of timber means the saving of
thousands OF dollars annually thru do
ing away with the heavy expense OF
labor and cost OF material for renewals.