The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-03-18
More Than 125, 100000 Pur-
chased in 1909 by All Lines.
ALL VARIETIES WOOD.
But Scarcity in Supply of Oak
Is Felt.
Other Items of General Inter-
est i'm Traffic World.

The railroads of the United States
purchased in 1909 a total of 123, ISL, 900
wooden cross ties according to a re-
port just issued by the United States
forestry department. This represents
an increase of L, 2S5, 900 ties or 10 per
cent over the number purchased in 1903.
but a decrease of %, $4,000 or 1875 per
cent from the number reported for
1907. The year 1907 was one of great
activity in the railroad world, while in
1908 the railroads felt the effect of the
general business depression and cur
tailed their expenses accordingly. From
a comparison of the figures for 1909,
1908 and 1907. 1t is evident, however,
that the cross tie industry is rapidly
regaining the prosperity enjoyed in 1907.
The figures covering the ties purchas-
ed for new track likewise are signifi-
cant of improvement. Nearly 16, 437,000
ties or 1873 per cent of the total were
reported as purchased for new track
in 1909, whereas in 1908 only 7,431, 900 or
Sc per cent of the total purchased
We're for this use. In 1907 the number
was 29,557 900 or 1873 per cent of the
total.
The tie problem presents an interest
ing study. A few years ago oak was
the principal wood used. Oak, how
ever, is growing scarcer year by year,
and the railroads are compelled to re-
sort to other woods Ninety-seven per
cent of the total number of ties are
cut from ten different kinds of wood.
Oak, Southern pine, Douglas fir, West
ern pine, cedar, chestnut, cypress,
tamarack, hemlock and redwood rank
in Importance by the sequence indica-
ted. Oak still leads by a wide mar
gin, furnishing about 46 per cent of the
total supply, while about 16 per cent
are cut from Southern pine. Then
comes Douglas fir, which provides
about 10 per cent; Western pine. cedar
and chestnut with about 6.5 per cent
n9Oh. the OfhQrC fnl1nvViT1cr wi cY,1 How
percentages. With the rapidly decreas-
ing supply of oak the use of hitherto
unimportant woods is increasing rapid
ly, probably eucalyptus, gum, spruce
found lacking in decay-reSisting quail
ties. but have been found acceptable
after treatment with preservatives
Most of the ties are hewn from the
wood, only two varieties being sawed
to any extent-Douglas fir and cedar.
In fact there have been no improve
ments in the methods of producing ties
for many years.
The total cost of ties -'1rchased an
nually by American railroads is ap-
proXimately $60,000000, the ties. aver
aging about so cents apiece There has
hewed ties in recent years, as many
of the ties are treated with preserva-
tives before delivery.
The increase in the use of preserva-
tives in the past decade has been no.
ticeable. 1t has not only been found
profitable to make many woods hereto
fore untitled for ties, suitable to the
work by preservatfve treatment, but
it also has been found economical to
treat oak and other woods in the same
manner, the added life of the tie more
than compromising for the addition to
the original cost.
There now are over 20 wood-preserv-
ing plants in the United States. A
large number of steam roads possess
expensive plants fitted to handle large
quantities of timber in a very efficient
manner. The principal preservatives
used are creosote oil and a solution of
zinc chloride. Crude petroleum also is
used on some roads A number of 9TH
er preservatives also have been utiliz-
ed in the work.