^2) Tlie results of European tests, which form the prtnoipal basis of our engineers' tables, are 

 inapplicable to timber grown here. 



G. Linden thai, chief engineei', North River Bridge Company, New York City: 

 There has not been so far an elaborate and continuous investigation of American timbers such as is now pursued 

 by the Forestry Division, and the meageruess of data relating to the subject has been repeatedly the cause of great 

 vexation and enibarrassmenttoengineers. » • » The absence of authentic and reliable knowledge of the physicaJ 

 properties of American timbers has been the cause of great losses, by reason of incorrect application and design, 

 mistaken judgmentin the preservationof such timbers, and of theirstrengthanddurability. • • • The informa- 

 tion engineers possess from similar tests in Europe naturally can not be applied to the timbers growu in this country, 

 and we ought not to be behind in this respect the information of the "Old Country." 



Thomas Bglestou, professor of metallurgy. School of Mines, Columbia College, New York: 



As a member of the committees of all the engineering societies of the United States, and at one time chairman 

 of the committees of the American societies of mining, civil, and mechanical engineers in charge of this subject, I 

 ur"cd at great length the consideration of this subject by a commission to be appointed by the United States 

 Government. It is one of the most important subjects connected with engineering, and I congratulate you on 

 having undertaken a wovlc whose results must be of such very great importance to the engineering profession in 

 all p.arts of the world. I am also glad to see by the circular that you intend to do some work on the botanical side 

 of the suliject. During the time tliat I was worlving witli the United States test commission, the extraordinary fact 

 was lirought out tliat at tliat time all tlie formuhe used in engineering for testing the strength of woods were 

 based on the tests of a snia,)] column of Dantzic Oak of a variety whicli does not grow iu tlie United States, and 

 that tliese tests were altogether valueless. By stating the botanical name of the wood and the conditions under 

 which it grew, these tests will become permanently valuable in the profession. 



Thomas M. Cleeman, past president Engineers Club, Philadelphia, Pa. : 



When the Engli.sh formula of Mr. Ilodgkinson, their gre.atcst authority, was shown by Mr. Smith's exper- 

 iments on large pillars to give results double what should be given, as stated in Trantwine's Pocket Book, 

 engineers felt a longing for full, .accurate and modern experiments, on large sizes, that they might not be in any 

 doubt as regards the strength of their work. The only method that will secure the information required is for the 

 Government to seek it in the manner jiroposed. It is just such work that will keej) it more in touch with the mass 

 of the people. 



G. Bonscaren, consulting engineer, Cincinnati, Ohio: 

 As one especially interested iu the results of these investigations, I may be pardoned for expressing my apprecia- 

 tion of the same and the anxiety which I feel to .see them carried out to the end and without any curtailment of the 

 programme, which is admirably conceived. Timber is used as structural material iu the United States to a much 

 larger extent than in any other country, but American engineers and architects are still dependent in a large 

 degree for a knowledge of its strength on experiments made by European investigators. These experiments do not 

 generally agree, for the reason that they were made on timbers growing under different conditions of climate and 

 soil, often cut from trees of diflerent varieties and age, and treated in a different manner by the several experimenters. 

 This simple statement of facts should suffice to show the great and urgent need of the work inaugurated by you, 

 the results of which shall form a true scientific basis for a most important branch of the engineering art. 



(3) Experiments made on small and selected specimens give unreliable data for use in the case of 

 large timbers. 



William H. Burr, vice-president Company of Constructing Engineers, New York: 

 It is true that a considerable number of examinations and tests have heretofore been made under the auspices of 

 the Government, but almost or quite entirely on small and specially prepared specimens, quite different in character 

 from the pieces of the s.ame material used in engiueering practice and in the entire field of structural operations. 

 There are at pre.sent few results of investigations made under conditions which fit them to serve practical pur- 

 poses. • » « Permit me to say, therefore, that I trust you will encourage, in every legitimate and proper manner, 

 this physical and mechiinical investigation of the different varieties of American timber; and I can confidently assure 

 you that the engineering and building portioE. of the public will be served in a most efficient and valuable m.auner 

 thereby. 



John C. Trautwine, jr., C. E., Philadelphia, Pa. : 

 I beg to express my appreciation of the value of such experiments, and especially the importance of having them 

 conducted on the most liberal scale. It is especially desirable that the tests should be made upon full-sized pieces, so 

 as to approximate as nearly .is possible to the conditions of actual service. Anything short of this would keep these 

 experiments down to the level of testa made in the past and rob them of their crowning advant.ago. 



