, 1922-10-12
Absolutely Decay Proof

How then, can We state absolutely
that creosoted wood pipe will not
decay? It is true that we can reason
only from analogy. but since GREG
soted wood, both in salt and fresh
water used under severe tests for
docks. piling. also ties. %culverts and
fence posts in the soil, have with
stood rot for decades. it is safe to
conclude that the same will be true
Of creosoted wood pipe.
In a catalogue published by Eng
lish Brothers. Ltd, Wisboch. Eng
land, there appears the following
statement. There exists a very
good exEmple Of durability of creo-
soted wood in the sheet piling of the
River None opposite our office where
creosoted wood piling driven in 1854
and 1856 is still standing firm after
81 years in work. while similar pill
ing executed in 1890, only 2h years
ago., with the same class of timber.
without c~reosoting is seriously de-
cayed and has had to be replaced"
This statement appeared about ten
years ago..
English Brothers further state
that creosoted fence posts in England
are perfectly sound and have required
no repairs after having been in serv-
ice for AZ years.
Other Examples
Won Schrank and Kammerer, Con-
sulting Engineers of St. Louis. writ
ing under date of October 16, 1913,
on the subject of the use of creo-
soted wood for underground O n
duits for telephone work state as fol
lows. I'VE have yet to see any
'k;-.to. %ronto1 anonrlirn 70 nrnnor
specifications which shows any sign
fers to conduits, but to any and all
classes Of creosoted material" In
this connection evidence of faith in
the durability of creosoted wood is
we'll exemplified by the Western
Electric Company through its use of
, creosoted wood for telephone cable
conduits laid under pavements in
cites both large and small. No ma
terial subject to decay would be
considered IL there were the slightest
doubt of its durability, because the
expense of removal for repairs would
make Its use prohibitive.
Creosoted wood stave culverts
placed across the main line of the
Southern Pacific Railroad in Oregon
in 1895 are still in perfect condition
today. Creosoted piling in the
Southern Pacific docks at San Fran
cisco show no sign of decay after 29
years Of service.
Endorsed BY Government
r. r. Horner in the U. s. Depart
ment OF the Interior, Bulletin on
Mine. Timber Preservation Serial
No. 1921. Page 8, under date OF
February 1922. states as follows:
"Creosote once in the wood remains
there for many years and where creo-
sote Is, decay car moi proceed"
In Bulletin No. 100 of the U. 8.
Forest Service. Technical Notes. For
est Products Laboratory. the follow
ing statement Is made: Light creo-
sote oils properly injected into wood
apparently will prevent decy until
the wood wears out" Another state
ment in the U. 8. Department OF
Agriculture. Forest Service. states
as follows: Douglas fir properly
creosoted will never decay
These and many other examples
of remarkable durability tell the
story. As q matter OF fact the pre-
sentative results obtained from
creosoting wood. Is &C seldom ques-
toned, that little scientific effort
has ever been made to compile his
torical data as proof OF the claim
but the data as applied to wood pipe
construction may be boiled down to
the statement that authorities now
generally hold that the measure OF
the life Of ~creosoted wood pipe is the
durability Of the metal bands. And
IL the metal Is replaced from time to
time, the pipe will last indefinitely.
There is no reason why 1t should not
last a century or more.
Continuous Slaves
Another great advance in the ON
struction of wood pipe is in the i'm
! provement Of the design in manufac-
turing and the adoption Of the prin-
ciple OF the continuous stave which
is built on the ground In the trench
| the unions between the slaves at their
ends being staggered 80 that the pipe
10 practically without Joints. This
has eliminated, for the benefit OF
wood pipe, one Of the most serious
defects found in most other kinds OF
pipe construction for II 10 at the
Joints that the Pipe OF various kinds
Gtves more or less trouble.
/, In the continuous stave pipe the
slaves are milled with tongue
end sroove and are held In place by
individual bands. These bands have
nuts ON the threaded ends and may
bo adjusted to the tension desired
and taken up At will so|that the pipe
may always be kept free from leaks
Having thus established that by the
application Of the croooote treatment
to the slaves in wood pipe their life
has been assured for an indefinite
long period. The determining factor
m the life of the pipe must BE- the
life of the wire Or bands BY which the
slaves are held together.
IAfe of Metal Bands
In determining the life Of the
bands certain important points In
lyofyed in the design Of wood pipe
must be pointed out. In the first
uI.no thA ~Svo ~ the hand nr wire