The Ketchikan miner., 1909-03-20

l The Forest Service of the Agrcul- tural Department of the United States government is sending out for publica- tion, instructive articles whose ten dency is to educate the public along the lines of forest preservation. The use of wood conservatives is a topic which has local interest for | ketchikan more than for most towns owing to the peculiarity of construc- tion, and any light which might be | thrown upon more perfect method of preserving the piling upon which this place rests, would prove bene- ticai. Tine report says:
 An increase from three and one-half million gallons of the oil of coal tar, or cresosote, as it is popularly known, imported into the City of New York in 1901, to an amount estimated to be almost, twenty million gallons last year, is one of the indications point ing to the progress of the nationwide
 
 est resources.
 It is creosote which the government and scores of corporations and private wood users have found to be one of the most satisfactory conservatives of | railroad ties, mine props, telephone and telegraph poles, fence posts and for timbers used for other commercial purposes. Lengthenng the life of timber in use means the lessening of the drain on the countrys and what is more important to the average busi- ness man it means the saving of thous- lnds of dollars annually spent for the labor of the frequent renewals made necessary when untreated timber is used.
 Ten years aoo the strongest advocates of the creosoting method of preserv- ing wood could scarcely have hoped for the present advanced state of this industry. Creosoting is becoming the acknowledged standard means of in- areasing the life of timbers.
 Formerly the p oduction of creosote, from coal tar anu wood tar, far ex ceeded any demand for wood treating purpoess. However, the number of wood- preserving plants has grown so rapidly within the last four years that this country is not now able to supply its own demand for coal tar creosote.
 brief study of the importation columns of the trade journals shows
 he effect of the growth of the wood preservation industry. In the whole fyear of 1904 the New York imports amounted to only 3 300, GOO gallons. By
 he end of 1907, the importation had increased to IT, 800, GOO gallons. while for the present year conservative esti- mates place the imported coal tar creo- sote at between P to p million gal Ions.
 The year has started most suspicious ly: during five-weeks' period in De- cember and January the importation through New York alone was l5, GOO tons, giving a weekly average of 5000 tons or Gs, 0O0 gallons. It is significant that during this same period the inn portation of related by-products from coal kept pace with that of creosote. Ammonium carbonate chloride, sul-- phate, and ''sal ammoniac" entered to- the amount of l04 227. l26, and 400 tons, respectively. If these had heen all made into the sulphate, the equiv alent nroduct would have been 460t tons per week. The estimated ratio, of twenty ponnds ct sulphate to one and one-half aaii.ns ot the creosote oil would ma.,e an equivalent produc- tion of 60. eco gallons of creo 'ote. This is not far different from the IS, 000 gallons which were really imported. Since these ammonia products and cre- osote are being imported in this rela- tion, it is plainly evident that the pro- ducton of creosote is not alone deici- ent, but also tar products in general.
 The production of creoso @ in this country will, in all p ohabihty. con- tinue to be far less than the cOnsump- tio~. The wood presel vation iudustry has been in it's infancy only, and enor- nous may he expected in the future. The coke. and consequent the coaf tar industries, have until recently been at their best. but even at their best, tue supply of iy-ltcducts has run short. On this acrour', ve should turn 10 other esuu.ces 10 supply the increasing demands for creosote pre- servatives.
 A great help may he eventually ar 1 forded by the increasing u.o ol tar wood c,eo ote which Eas nnt leen in high favor in the past. It is gtati- | fying to note that withir the last few years some of the more intl orlant wood distltrs have heeu u ing into H profit those oils ard IS which were | formerly run 10 waste. Fhr demand for these products k increasing. and this recovered by-r,0duc. has been as serted to ne not only revenue fur the l .4.t.t