The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-03-17
Railroads Have Been Core
spending With Uncle Sam.
DANGER IN FIRE LOSS.
Growth of Timber and PreserVa-
tive Treatment lis Necessary.
Other Items of General Interest
in Railroad Circles.

railroad work in cooperation with the
movement Of conservation of natural
resources formed the central point of
discussion today at the opening session
of the eleventh annual convention of the
American Railway association at the
Congress hotel.
Since the last convention of the en-
gineering body the special committee
cooperating with the national conser-
walton commission has been in CORE
spondence with Clifford Pinchot and
with his former and present assistants
and has kept in constant touch with
the work which is being done. A. S.
Baldwin, chief engineer of the Illinois
Central railroad, is chairman Of the
special committee on conservation
Control of forest fires was touched
upon as the most important phase If
the problem. it being estimated that in
Wisconsin alone, last year, 100000
acres of forest were burned over, while
in West Virginia the total was 100000
acres. In discussing conservation the
committee said in part:
THE railroads may well consider the
adVisa bility of cooperating with local
and state authorities in preventing OF
suppressing forest fires in the regions
which they traverse. Fires affect the
public welfare most diSaStrously, as
has been proved time and again. The
railroads of the country may materially
assist in the work of forest preserva-
ton on the following general lines:
Keeping the right of way cleared of
all inhammable material; the exercise
of great care to prevent the escape OF
fire while this clearing is being done;
having it thoroughly understood by all
section foremen that they and their
crews must Immediately go to and put
out fires set by the railroad about
which information reaches them; by
holding each train crew responsible Tor
reporting to the section foreman, both
by whistle signals. and by personal re-
port, any fires passed"
"One of the best methods by which
the railroads can insure themselves
against a shortage of ties and timber in
age their own forests A number of
railroads have already adopted this
policy. Some have withdrawn from the
market the remainder of their foreSted
Immigrant areas; others have pur-
chased forest land outright. The man.
agement of existing forests is more
economical, and in the long run will
probably be more satisfactory than the
establishment of plantations.
ITO be successful, however, such lands
should be in charge of trained forest
ers. who should manage the lands more
with a view to producing ties and tim
future, when it will be impossible TO
purchase from outside sources, than to
meeting all the immediate demands of
the roads from the present stand at a
sacrifice of future productiveness.
Decay is responsible for the destruc-
ton of about 81 per cent and abrasion
13 per cent of ties in the track. There
is greater need to protect the ties from
decay than from mechanical wear, al
though a system that will do both is
the best. Such a system is especially
necessary when road uses ties of soft
woods. Since the cheaper grades of
wood are being used more largely each
year on account of the growing scarcity
OF the more durable and valuable
varieties, preservative treatment is be-
coming more and more essential in or
der to keep maintenance charges as low
as possible.
about 100000 ties were used by
the steam railroads in 1907. The num-
Der is rapidly increasing"
About 400 members of the association
are present for the convention. The
meeting will occupy three days in all,
being closed on Thursday with the an
nuaI election of officers. The annual
dinner will be held tomorrow evening
in the gold room of the Congress hotel,
at which the president and other Of
ficers will receive the members and
guests of the association.
At this evenings session special re-
port on conservation of cross ties by
means of protection from mechanical
wear will be read to the association by
]. w. Kendrick. vice president of the
Atchison. Topeka & Santa Fe railroad.
The talk will be illustrated by lantern
slides.