The Topeka state journal., 1911-03-03

RAILROAD NEWS.
Nearly 125, 100000 Cross Ties
Purchased by Roads in 1909.
New Government Report Gives
Tie Statistics.
MANY WERE TREATED.
More Than 22,OOO,OOO Given
Preservatiye Treatment.
other Items of General Inter-
est in Traffic World.
MANY WERE TREATED

The government report Just issued
states that the total number of wooden
cross-tles purchased by the steam and
elecerlc railroads of the United States
In 1908 was 123, ISL, ,000 This represents
an increase of II, ,2S5, 900 ties, or 10 per
cent cent over the number purchased in
Ieoo' out decrease of 29, ,952. 900, or 1875
PEI per cent, from the number reported for
1Sol- The year 1907 was one of great
actiVlty IN the railroad world, while in
ISuo the railroads felt the effect of the
seneral business depression and cur
ld4Ieo lhelr expenses accordingly. From
comparison of the figures for 1909,
t' tSoo ana lS07, 1t is evident, however,
tnat the cross-tie industry is rapidly
1907. a.
Inc flgures covering the ties pur-
CHASED for new track are likewise sig
liIlcant of Improvement. Nearly 49,
4SI'oOO ties, or 1873 per cent of the total
number, were reported as purchased
for new track in 1909, whereas in 1ao8
only 7'4S1,OOO ties, or 6.6 per cent of the
total purchased, were for this use. In
1SOI the number was 23, ,557 900. or 1873
per cent of the total OF the ties
pought for new track in 1909, the steam
railroads reported IL, ,s22, ,OOO or about 81
per cent, and the electric roads 2,615,-
OVU. The ties purchased for new track
py steam roads formed IL per cent of
all ties purchased by them, while the
corresponding proportion for the cleo
trio roads was 31.4 per cent. The steam
roads, however, showed by far the
larger relative gain over 1908 in this
respect, since their building activities
were restricted during the latter year
to a greater extent than was the case
with electric lines.
Treating Ties.
OF the cross-ties purchased in 1909.
22,O33,OO0 were given a preservatiye
treatment. This number is 1,743. 900
less than that reported for the preced-
ing year, but 2,177, 900 greater than that
for 1907. The proportion which treated
ties formed of the entire number pur-
chased was 17.S per cent in 19O9 I'll per
cent in 1908, and 1919 per cent in 1907
OF the number treated in 1909, about
one-third were treated before purchase
and two-tkirds after purchase.
The steam railroads treated more ties
after purchase in 1909 than in 1908 or
1907, although the total number of
treated ties reported by them was L.
959, 900 less in 1909 than in 1908 The
number purchased by them already
treated was 3,485, 600 less than IN 1908
The electric railroads reported 835, 200
treated ties, of which 582, 900 or 697 per
cent, We're treated before purchase and
253, 900, 30.S per cent, after purchase.
There are now more than 20 wood
preserving plants in the United States.
A number of the large steam roads
possess expensive plants fitted 10
handle large quantities of timber in
very efficient manner. Nearly all treat
ed cross-ties used by steam railroads
are treated in closed cylinders permit
ting the application of pressure and de-
signed to secure a heavy absorption of
the preservative. The principal pre-
servatives used were creosote oil, and,
to an almost equal degree, a solution
of zinc chloride. Many ties are treated
with an emulsion of creosote oil and q
solution of zinc chloride, and one road
treated large quantities of its ties with
a heavy injection of crude petroleum
Other preservatives are also used.