Putnam patriot., 1928-09-06

equal. The exact number of ties pur- chased last year was l,5l3,92S, secur- cd as follows:---
 47.3G in Connecticut
 39.7fs in Massachusetts
 S.1es in Rhode Island
 4.9gs in New York The number of ties 1t is necessary to purchase has been decreasing steadily ! for the past few years, due to the pro gram of ereosoting of ties instituted ! by Vice President Rice in 1922. For ! the fiye-year period l920-1924 in- elusive 2.000, ,000 ties were purchased annually. For this same period native i timber. including cross ties mentioned above, purchased by the New Haven Railroad amounted to 36g ,S2S,033 l feet, at cost of $13,040, 0,077.30 secured as follows:--
 4Ses in Connecticut
 39sf in Massachusetts See in Rhode Island 5ce in New York
 Since then the effects of wood pre- servation have become apparent and the number has fallen until this year only 100000 ties will be used. Two Alternatives
 Prior to the chestnut blight of 1904 there was a plentiful supply of that ] leading hardwood in this territory, but when the chestnut began to die of a disease brought from Japan we were faced with the choice of one of two alternatives. Either the efficient use of what timber still stood in this lo- cality, or importation from the south ' Ac Ia. England, Red Oak, Beech, Ash, lick ory, Birch, Maple and Hemlock. had been disregarded because of their rap i'd decay when placed in the ground. Common oaks, the only timber accept able, had been used sparingly, but last ed only four years, and because of this quick decay had been mistakenly re- garded as lacking in strength
 The New Haven Road was fortunate 1 in having on its staff a man who is recognized as one of the pioneer rail- road men of the country to perceive the value of wood preservation. Mir. Rice ordered survey made of wood lots in Massachusetts. Connecticut, Rhode Island and New York, and this survey showed sufficient cut still in existence to replace ali the ties in the roadbed.
 Mir. Rice therefore decided not to go south or west for ties but to use the home supply, and, through modern methods of preservation, to so lengthen the life of the ties as to gradually cut down the annual requirements, thereby making Q contribution towards the cause of forest conservation. Fol lowing out this policy, he invited the American Creosoting Company of Louisville. Ky. to build at Cedar Hill, at no cost to the New Haven, one of the best plants in this country for the creosoting of ties.
 Since the opening of this plant m June, 1922 the equivalent of more than 7,000,000 ties, in cross ties' bridge timbers, piles, signal material lumber and tie plugs, have passed through the plant.
 Annual Replseements
 Some idea of the economy brought about through the policy of treating ties may be gained by a comparison of the annual replacements From lSZO to 1925 the annual replacements per mile of track averaged 4lO. This means, with 3,200 to a mile, service of less than eight years has been ob- tained from untreated chestnut and white oak ties. If the treated ties put in in 1922, had been put in with out creosoting, they would all be out now.
 In other words, an equal number would have been purchased again, and the cost of another installation would have been incurred. Instead, the first ties creosoted are still seemingly as good as when laid.
 As against that average of 4l0 re- placements per mile of track. the esti- mate for this year calls for replace ments of only 26s ties to the mile, and a considerable further reduction may be looked forward to. Mir. Rice feels that in view of the excellent results already obtained, the improvements contemplated and already accomplish ed in weight of rail, rail fasteninRs, | tie plates, and creosote tie plugs, 100 replacements a mile is not too high a goal at which to aim--and that means an average life per tie of twenty years.
 In addition to the benefit to the New Haven Railroad in the matter of eco- nomy. Mir. Rice feels also that the establishment of the creosoting plant ! has been instrumental in inspiring confidence in the possibilities of re- forestration. which would put to use some of New England's idle land, of which there IS. in Connecticut alone, roughly ,500,000 acres.
 Summary of Benefits
 Summing up the benefits of tie pre- servation, they are.-- 1 1. Timber otherwise unused is made available.
 2. Timber will last twice as long as | formerly.
 ! B. Better and stronger ties.
 1. Ties are maehined for the track, and other details improved 5. Manufacture of bridge timber at central plant requiris carrying of smaller stock.
 [ 6. Demonstration to the community at large of what can be done in waste elimination and the possibilities m idle lands.
 Tn the next issue we expect to go into more detail about the big creosot- ing plant and follow cross~tie through the various processes from the time 1t arrives at Montowese until 1 it is delivered to some division ready to be laid in the track.