The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1909-04-22
WHY WOOD DECAYS.

WASHINGTON, D. c., April IL. 1909.
Piles driven by the hut jewellers Of the
Baltic centuries ago are as sound today
as when first placed. The wooden coffins
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 decay? The an
swer 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 mi
croscope is required to see them, yet
their work results in the destruction 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 dol
lars 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 sat
isfactory method of preserving wood
against the inroads of decay. In study
ing the means of preventing decay wood
preserving experts have learned many
things about 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 lack
ing, they can not live, and the decay of
timber will not take place. Wood con-
stantly submerged in water never rots,
simply because there is an insufficient
supply of air This condition 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 great many cases, however,
where it is impossible to keep wood sub
merged in water, or in an absolutely
air-drv condition. In fact, large per-
centage 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 de-
composing organisms to get foothold.
| Decay is most serious where the atmos-
phere is warm and damp, because these
conditions are most favorable for its de-
velopment In the coal mines of Penn
sylvania timber decays in two or three
years because the temperature is warn
and constant and the air is damp. Anc
1 in the SOUTH the warm, humid atmos.
phere often causes the timber to rapidly
decompose.
Decay may be prevented by two gen
eral methods, by treating the wood with
antiseptics, thus poisoning the food sup
DIV 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 power
full antiseptic.
The United States government consd
ers the Investigations of the preservativs
treatment of timber of such Importance
that the business of one branch of bur
eau in the Department Of Agriculture
the coffee of Wood Preservation" in tn,
Forest Service at Washington, is givel
over entirely to the work of experiment
in cooperation with railroad companie
and individuals in prolonging the life o
railroad ties, mine props, bridge timbers
fence posts and transmission poles. Ad
vice and practical assistance is Furnished
all who request this advice of the Forest
er. The lengthening of life of timbe
means the saving of thousands Of dollar
annu ally through doing away with tn
heavy expense of labor and cost of ma
terial for renewals.
Ct1DEc I&rnJCECTJnN