8 



(4) A better Tcnowledge of the physical properties of woods will result in greater economy in the 

 use of material, and less forest waste. 



G. H. Thomson, engineer of bridges, New York Central Railroad, Am. See. C. E., M. I. C. E. : 



The value of timber, viewed commercially alone, possibly may be well known, but the structural properties, 

 durability, and suitability for the various purposes, etc., are not fully ascertained, so that consumers of large quan- 

 tities of timber can not always construct timber work with ultimate economy, not knowing all the premises which 

 should govern a conclusion involving large expenditures in timber. A better knowledge of the physical properties of 

 woods would result In greater economy and lesu forest waste, a desideratum worthy of national consideration. 

 E. D. Meier, C. E., and president of Heine Safety Boiler Company, St. Louis, Mo.: 

 Having frequently been at a loss to determine just what strains timbers of various kinds may be safely called 

 upon to bear, and having in ftict been several times obliged to make hasty and crude tests of my own, I take the 

 liberty to write you in hopes that you may find means to continue the very thorough tests you have begun. There 

 are few thinn-s of so general value to all classes of the community, both those who build structures and those who 

 live or travel over them, as a thorough knowledge of the timber which enters into their construction. We have, 

 through the efforts of the War Department, a tolerably thorough knowledge of structural materials, composed mainly 

 of steel or iron. But there are, and always will be, a large number of structures in which the engineer and the 

 builder are obliged to rely mainly on timber. Tliere are in this country some excellent examples of large timber 

 spans in bridges which have stood the test of a century's travel, but in examining them we are struck very forcibly 

 by the fact that an immense saving in material might have been ellcctod had their builders been able to obtain a 

 complete and accurate knowledge of the physical properties of the timbers they were obliged to use. 



Edward Bates, engineer, Chicago, Minneapolis and St. Paul Railway Company, Chicago, lU.: 

 Having in my charge something over 100 miles of wooden bridges, besides wooden buildings of all classes, I am 

 competent to express an opinion that these tests will be extremely useful to engineers and others engaged in timber 

 construction, and would like, as far as I can, to emphasize my opinion as to their importance. I venture to add the sug- 

 gestion that io make the work complete all of the information obtainable regarding the different processes for the 

 preservation of timber should be added. The qiiestion of using our timber supply to the best advantage and pre- 

 serving it to the country is so important that 1 nuike no apology for tliis letter. 



J. J. R. Croes, Am. Soc. C. E., M. Inst.-C. E., New York City: 



While I had a general idea regarding the work being done in this direction by your Department, I was 

 not aware that so thorough and systematic an examination of the pro]icrties of timber h.id been undertaken, and I 

 am greatly impressed with the value of these investigations to all who are interested in knowing the relative value 

 for structural purposes of tlu> different kinds of timber in the United States. I beg leave to urge the necessity, 

 from an economic point of view, of having sufficient appropriations made by Congress to enable the work to be 

 carried to completion on the scale on which it has been begun. 



L. L. Buck, C. E., 18 Broadway, New York: 



It seems to be eminently a proper function of our Government to pursue the investigation exhaustively, as 

 proposed. The cost will not be excessive compared to the value gained by authoritative information thus laid 

 before the people. Moreover, such information will in time repay the expense of obtaining it, by removing an 

 important cause of destruction, to wit, that of cutting large quantities which, after being culled over, net but a 

 small portion of high-class material; while a far greater portion might have been found good if cut at the proper 

 time and age. 



Benjamin Douglas, bridge engineer Michigan Central Railroad, Detroit, Mich. : 

 A knowledge of the results of such tests will be of great value to engineers and builders, and particularly 

 those made with large pieces— those showing the relation existing between the strength of large and small pieces cut 

 from the same tree, and the influence of continued service. A thorough knowledge of the properties of timber would 

 lead to considerable economy in its use, and this -will be of constantly increasing importance in the future as tim- 

 ber grows more scarce. 



J. E. Watkins, curator, section of transportation and engineering, Smithsonian Institution, 

 Washington, D. C. : 



To me, in common with other civil engineers of America, the need for an exact knowledge of the physical 

 properties of American timber is apparent. • • • i earnestly trust that sufficient appropriation will be ob- 

 tained from the next Congress to insure a continuation of the good work already begun. A more complete knowl- 

 edge of the subject will grow in economic value as our American iorests are depleted. Had this matter been taken 

 up fifty years ago millions of feet of timber which have been wasted might have been saved. 



H. I. Miller, Supt. Pittsburg, Cincinnati, Chicago and St. Louis Railway Co., LouisvUle, Ky. : 

 Our useful timbers are being rapidly depleted, and if scientific research will assist in a better knowledge of their 

 uses it will unquestionably prolong the time during which we will have these timbers in thia country. 



