The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1909-03-06
USE OF PERSONALITIES
IN FOREST CONSERVATION
INDICATIVE OF PROGRESS
Associated Press.

has issued the following:
An increase from three and one
half million gallons of the oil of coal
tar. or creosote, as it is popularity
known, imported into the City of New
York in 1904, to an amount estimated
to be almost twenty-five millions last
year, is one of the indications pointing
to the progress of the nation wide
movement for the conservation of for
ests resources.
1t is. creosote which the govern
ment and scores of corporations and
private wood users have found to be
one of the most satisfactory preserva-
tives of railroad ties, mine props, tel
ephone and telegraph poles, fence
posts, and for the timbers used for 9th
err commercial purposes. Lengthening
the life of timber in use means the
lessening the drain on the country's
forests, and what is more important
to the average business man, it means
the saving of thousands of dollars
annually spent for the labor OF the
frequent renewals made necessary
when untreated timber is used.
Ten years ago the strongest advo-
serving wood could scarcely have hop
ed for the present advanced state of
this industry. Creosoting is becoming
the acknowledged standard means of
increasing the life of timbers.
Formerly the production of creo-
sote, from both coal tar and wood tar,
far exceeded any demand for wood
treating purposes. However, the num-
Der 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.
A brief study of the importation
columns of the trade journals shows
the effect of the growth of the wood
preservation industry. In the whole
year of 1904 the New York imports
amounted to only 100000 gallons.
BY the end of the year of 1907, the
Importation had increased to 17,00O,-
900 gallons, while for the present year
conservative estimates place the i'm
ported coal tar creosote at between
% and 25 million gallons.
The year has started most auspici-
ously; during a five weeks period in
December and January the importation
through New York alone was 10000
tons, giving the weekly average Of
5000 tons or $4,000 gallons. 1t is
significant that during this same per-
iod the same importation of related by
products from coal kept pace with that
of creosote. Ammonium carbonate,
chloride, sulphate, and "Sal ammoni-
&C" entered to the amount of 104, 227,
1860 and 400 tons, respectively. If
these had been all made into the sui
phate, the equivalent product would
have been 460 tons per week. The
estimated ratio Of twenty pounds OF
sulphate to one and one-half gallons
of the creosote oil would make ar
equivalent production of $4,000 gallons
of creosote. This is not far different
from the $4,000 gallons which were
really imported. Since these ammon
ia products and creosote are bein'
imported in this relation, it is plain
Iy evident that the production of ere
osote is not alone deficient, but ais
coal tar products in general
The production of creosote in thi
country will, in all probability, cor
tinue to be far less than the consuml
ton. The wood preservation industr
has been in its infancy only and emo
mus demands may be expected in tn
future. The coke, and consequent
the coal tar industries, have until r
Gently been at their best, but even
their best the supply of by-product
has run short. On this account, W
should turn to other sources to SUI
ply the increasing demands for cree
cote personalities.
A great help may be eventually a
forded by the increasing use of woo
tar creosote which has not been
high favor in the past. 1t is gratif
ing to note that within the last fe
years some of the more importal
wood distillers have been turnin
into profit those oils and tars whic
were formerly run to waste. The q
mand for these products is increasir
and this recovered by-product hf
been asserted to be not only re
enue for the producer but also va