ARBORICULTURE 



349 



The Mexican Central Railway. 



The Mexican Central Railway, Ltd., 

 extends from El Paso, Texas, where it 

 connects with the Santa Fe, Rock Lsland 

 and Southern Pacific systems, southward to 

 the City of Mexico, with many branches 

 reaching almost every city, while agricul- 

 tural and commercial centers are all con- 

 nected by this railway system. 



It is a vast and important enterprise. 

 The railways are to the Mexican Republic 

 just what they are to our own country, 

 absolutely indispensable in these progres- 

 sive times. 



The stage coach, the burro, ox teams and 

 saddle horses traverse the mountain regions 

 to mines and timber lands not yet reached 

 by railways, but there are no means of 

 communication so rapid, convenient, com- 

 fortable or as economical as is the modern 

 railway. 



This road has a total mileage, 3,211 

 miles in operation with other branches 

 under construction. 



We learn by the annual report of the 

 Board of Directors that: 



The tie renewals for 1902 were 631,972, 

 costing $720,919. 



During the years from 1883 to 1902, one 

 decade, the number of new ties placed in 

 tracks was 6,854,513, which at the average 

 rate would cost $7,882,690. 



It will be seen, therefore, that the prob- 

 lem of timber and cross ties for the future 

 is one of vast importance to this Company. 



The Mesquit, a native low growing tree, 

 furnishes quite a number of excellent ties, 

 but this variety of wood is of extremely 

 slow growth, and as the country tributary 

 to the railway is being cleared rapidly for 

 fuel and other purposes, the Mesquit will 

 not afford a permanent supply. 



Many ties are made from the native oak, 

 which is also of extremely slow growth, 

 and is not being reproduced with rapidity 

 in the rougher and semi arid lands. 



Pine is not durable, although many pine 

 ties are used. 



A treating plant is, or soon will be in 

 operation, which will extend the durability 

 of pine and soft woods. 



It is well that the question of growing 

 trees which may be utilized in future for 

 various timbers and especially cross-ties, 

 should be carefully considered by this, and 

 all other corporations. 



Trees which will grow in a dozen oir a 

 score of years into lumber and timbers, 

 may be counted upon the fingers of one's 

 hands. Those which can also be used where 

 strength and durability are required may 

 be summed up in less than half a dozen, the 

 whole world over. 



It is extremely fortunate that the few 

 really valuable rapidly maturing trees, suit- 

 able for railway use may be successfully 

 grown in extreme southern localities. 



There are many streams of water, arti- 

 ficial canals and irrigating ditches, margins 

 of lakes and moist places where tree growth 

 will be successful and rapid. The plan of 

 planting economic forest trees for commer- 

 cial purposes is no longer an experiment, 

 it has long ago passed that stage. 



Capitalists are investing their money in 

 forest plantations and are assured of a cer- 

 tain and renumerative income from these 

 investments. 



The rate of tree growth per annum is 

 well known from many years careful study 

 and measurements. It is therefore a mathe- 

 matical problem, capable of demonstration, 

 just what may be expected in a dozen or a 

 score of years, and large plantations 

 should be established speedily to supply the 

 increasing demand of commerce and manu- 

 factures for wood for various purposes. 

 $720,000 spent each year for new ties to 

 take the place of those decayed, and this 

 for one railway company, is an astounding 

 statement — but ten per cent, of this annual 

 expenditure would insure a perpetual forest 

 which will afford all the timbers required 

 for all time to come. 



It is well worth the most careful consid- 

 eration by the great financiers who furnish 

 the money to build, equip and operate great 

 railway systems. 



