The Washington herald., 1913-11-23
)ADS ENDEAVORING TO CONSERVE FORESTS

| to pay the prices the owners asked for
only so much Of their lands as was re-
ouired for the new tracks. Having the
| farms. Mr.. Cassatt directed that some
lof them be planted in locust trees. The
purpose was not TO grow trees for the
| future use of the railroad but to induce
llandholders along the line TO start PLAN
tations Of their own. II was learned,
however, that locusts do not become
large enough for ties much under forty
years. and that they suffer from the
attacks Of certain insects.
Forty years is q long time TO wait
for a crop. and red oaks, hardy and
q more rapidly growing tree, were sub
stituted in later paintings. We have
about 5000 acres in trees. the plantations
being located at different places along
the main line. The. acorns are obtained
in Northern New York. and are sown
/ In rows, ffteen to the foot. When the
seedlings are two years old they are
ltransplanted, being placed six feet apart
An acre thus afforested will contain
1. 200 trees, but some Of them die, and
as they grow up others will be crowded
out until finally there will be no more
than the land will support advantage
ously.
Three Million Young Trees.
mature, of course, sows its acorns
much more closely. And Immediately
when an acorn strikes the ground II be-
gins a hard struggle for existence. Above
a tangIe of vines, small plants. brush,
and stunted trees one will see the crests
of the giants of the woods, and will
know that they are the victors OF a
fight that has been going on. perhaps.
for centuries.
Two nurseries supply us with young
nr,a fc ad af farf fuf0
which is between Altoona and Harris
burg. and the other at Morrisville. across
the river from Wilmington, Del About
100000 trees are growing in the
nurseries. Thus far we have planted
2,oO0, 900 locusts and 100000 red oaks.
No ties have as yet been produced from
our own timber. Practically all of our
supply Is purchased from farmers Three
million ties are bought annually. Those
hewn from white oak trees are selling
for 70 cents a piece. 1t takes seventy
i've years. however. under favorable con-
dit.ons Of soil and climate for q white
oak to reach a size suitable for cross-tie
production.
Locust ties are worth 20 cents, and
those made OF Southern long-leaf pine
are quoted at 30 cents. Red oak ties
are bringing 80 cents and chestnut ties
IS cents Not many chestnut ties. how
ever, will come to market in the future.
A parasitic fungus is killing the trees
In the Eastern part of the country. 1t
was observed first in Central Park. New
York City, and from there worked into
New England and westward into Penn
sylvania- No one knows how II got here.
Some believe IL reached the United
States from Italy, the vehicle being
chestnuts grown in that country and
imported by Italian dealers. Another
theory is that II was brought on trees
coming from japan.
Eating Forests by Wholesale.
''The steam and electric railroads are
now using 100000 ties annually, 12S.-
e0o.0o0 of which are for renewals. They
would make forest of s.. 2o0.0 900 trees and
would cover, suppose. more than 100000
acres. Most OF the ties are oak. with
Southern pine second on the list and
Douglas fir third. Therverage price is
81 cents each. Seventy-eght kinds of tim
ber are accepted by the steam railroads.
Any wood that is durable, will hold
spikes and resist mechanical wear comes
within ordinary requirements.
There are oak ties in the West which
were grown in Japan. Ohialehua, a wood
from Hawaii. Is also being tested by
roads on the Pacific Coast. All of our ties,
however. except 100000 year. are cut
in the forests Of the United States and
most Of them are hewn, whereas II they
were sawed the saving of timber would be
considerable-40 per cent, possibly. A
billion ties are now in use in this country,
including stocks held in reserve for re-
newals.