The Norfolk weekly news-journal., 1909-09-24
TO PREVENT WASTE,
Railroads to Participate In Ma.
tionaI Conservation Movement.
ADVICE SOUGHT FOR BY THEM

Joint Committee TO Give Them sug.
sestions as to Practical Method OF
Putting Policies Into Effeot-Enor.
nous Consumption Of Steel and Tim.
Der by Railways.
A plan by which the railroads are tc
take part In the conservation move
ment is announced as the outgrowth
OF conferences and correspondence be-
tween representatives of the carriers
and the joint committee on conserva-
tioo- Preliminary negotiations on the
part OF the railroads have been con-
Quoted by representatives Of the Amer
lean Railway Engineering and Main.
tenance Of Way association. Attention
was also given to the subject Of con.
servation ut the recent meeting of the
American Railway Master Mechanics
association ut Atlantic City, n. j. The
great quantities Of timber, iron and
coal used by the transportation lines
are the bond of interest between them
and the conservationists
The plan as outlined provides for a
systematic arrangement by which the
committee on conservation is to give
the railroads suggestions as to the
most practical method Of putting con-
servation policies into effect. The
railway men agree to carry out these
suggestions. The conservation author
tiles have submitted plan which in
now In the hands Of A 8. Baldwin,
chief engineer Of the Illinois Central
railroad, who In letter to the con
servation committee says:
On account of the wide areas traversed
~ the railroads and the great consump-
ton by them of timber and fuel, with
their enormous use of iron and steel prod
ucts. II is believed that the most effectual
assistance of the American Railway En-
cheering and Maintenance Of Way asso-
citation can be in directing the attention
OF railroad officials to the excessive waste
fulness in the present methods of produo-
ton of timber and fuel and the great im-
portance of introducing economies In their
use and consumption; also to the impor-
lance Of economising in the use OF iron
and steel products and the possibilities
Of preservation by protective coatings and
otherwise
With this end in view the railroad
conservation committee has asked for
specific suggestions as to the best
methods that should be used by rail-
roads In the prevention and control Of
forest fires The conservation commit
tee has presented an outline for this
work and with 1t a statement showing
the enormous loss of lumber through
forest fires every year.
Of hn
railroad association has also asked for
advice as to how a reduction in rail.
road expenses may be brought about
by the use of treated ties and for sug
gestions as to the Importance of en-
couraging in the coal territory served
by them the use Of byproduct ovens.
Railroad representatives also want to
know what useful varieties Of trees can
be grown to advantage in each state
or group Of states, and they ask for
information as to how they should be
started. They say there is scarcely q
railroad In the United States that has
not some spare pieces of land that
might be profitably planted in trees If
the railroad officials knew what trees
were best suited to the particular To-
cality.
This information has been furnished.
The railroad association, through its
conservation committee, has likewise
inquired as to the extent of saving In
timber through the use of sawed in
stead of hewed ties. Inquiries as to the
prolOngation of life of the steel and
iron used in bridges and other con-
structions have also been made. All
these inquiries the committee on con-
servatiOn has undertaken to answer,
and it will be matter of only short
time until the suggestions are in the
hands of the chief engineers Of all the
great railroads In the United States.
The conservation committee Of the
railroad association says 1t will "place
Itself at the service Of the joint COM
mittee on conservation in endeavoring
to get from the railroads such definite
data as to the consumption of ties and
| timber and fuel as may be desired"
and that it sis prepared to investigate
and report as may be desired by the
| Joint committee on conservation as to
the possibility of substitution of other
materials for ties and timber" This
offer is regarded by the joint commit
tee as one of great Importance.
On account of the magnitude Of the
plan 1t is probable that all of the forty
state conservation commissions ap
pointed by the governors will be asked
to join in helping carry it out. 1.-THE
committee will be glad" Mr.. Baldwin
Of the railroad association says, "to
cooperate with any Of the national or
state organizations in its efforts to OBJ
tain this information OF further the
work of the commission in any way In
Its power that may be outlined by the
| Joint committee on conservation and
holds itself at the committees serv-
ice until further instructed."-Special
| WaShinufnn Cny. Nayu Vnrly Do.@