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directly useful schemes of scientific investigation ever yet nndertaken, and all will be very ninch gratified that so 

 extensive and satisfactory .1 work has been undertaken by such competent authorities. Its value to the whole country 

 is likely to prove vastly more than commensurate with its cost and with the time expended upon it. This is not an 

 individual opinion only, but is that of competent judges throughout the world, as is witnessed by the still earlier 

 action of the probably best organized forestry department in the world, that of the Prussian Government. No other 

 I'ountry has even approximately the number and variety of timber trees possessed by the United States ; and in no 

 other part of the world is the complete study of their useful qualities so inniortant. The rapid extinction of pine 

 tinil)er in the older sections formerly possessing large areas of pine lands, the imperative necessity of finding suitable 

 substitutes, and the even more imperative necessity of finding pronii)tly a way to inaugurate the replacement of 

 this lost forest, as a matter of s.anitation and climatic regulation, and of making this substitution by cultivating the 

 best timber trees, are facts which sufficiently well indicate the vital importance of the work already undertaken by 

 your Department. 



C. J. H. Woodbury, vice-president Boston Manufacturers' Mutual Fire Insurance Company : 



By way of introduction, I would say that, although an officer of an insurance company, we confine our business 

 entirely to underwriting upon manufacturing property, and mj' duties largely pertain to the numerous questions of 

 engineering involved in these matters. The only method of floor construction found feasible in our mills has been 

 to construct such floors of very heavy timber, because iron is not so well suited for that, as its anvil-like rigidity 

 causes the machinery to hammer itself to destructive results. The use of timber in mill work has been largely based 

 upon precedent, and but very little has been done outside of my own work on the matter of properly organizing and 

 formulating such results and methods. I do not know how I can call your attention to the importance of a careful 

 investigation upon the physical properties and strength of timber for mill work in other ways than to say that, by 

 the method of slow-burning construction in vogue in this country, mills are built at a cost of 75 cents for every square 

 foot of llnor, while the corresponding method of building mills in use in England involves a cost of about .$1.50 per 

 square foot of floor. The fire hazard of the American mill is also much less, such mills being insured at a cost of about 

 one-fifth of 1 per cent; whereas the cost of insuring the corresponding English mill largely exceeds this. 



J. W. Andrews, assistant chief engineer Oniaba, Kansas Central and Galveston Eailroad Co. : 

 Learning that your Department has begun a series of tests of American timber, I beg to tender my wishes for a 

 full and elaborate investigation into the physic^al properties of our woods and their uses. With railroad men the 

 economic value of such tests will be incalculable, because of the great ignorance on this subject, which often leads to 

 serious results, not only in railroad bridges, but in large buildings. Many serious accidents and much loss of hum.-iii 

 life might be averted if engineers and mechanics knew precisely the value, in strength and durability, of the various 

 woods in structural uses. 



George F. Swain, professor of civil engineering, Mass. Institute of Teclinology, Boston, Mass. : 

 I desire to express in the strongest terms my appreciation of tlie work which yon have inaugurated, and to bear my 

 testimony to the great value which the results will have for all persons interested in building or having to do with 

 the use of timber. I think that you and your De})artment are to be congratulated upon having been the first to enter 

 upon a work of great importance, and I sincerely trust that nothing may interfere with its successful prosecution. 



A. G. Compton, professor applied matliematics, College of the City of New York, New York : 

 My attention has been called to the investigation into the properties of American timbers now being conducted 

 by the Department of Agriculture, and I write to express to you my sense of the great value which such a work may 

 have if conducted in a thoroughly scientific spirit. I hope the undertaking will receive hearty support. 



W. G. Curtis, general manager Southern Pacific Company, San Francisco, Cal. : 

 Our attention has been called to the comprehensive timber tests recently inaugurated in the Forestry Division of 

 the Department of Agriculture. Without doubt such tests will be of great benefit to the scientific world, as well as 

 to tlie public generally, and we think it important that the investigations be vigorously prosecuted and carried to 

 final conclusions at an early date. 



William B. Jenkins, receiver New Orleans and Northwestern Eailway Co., Natchez, Miss.: 

 Such a work will be invaluable to the engineers, architects, builders, railroad companies, lumber manufacturers 

 and dealers, and to the public generally. But few tests have been made of Southern timbers, whilst the Southern 

 States are full of the most valuable and durable kinds of wood, all suitable for building purposes. Tests of these 

 timbers, giving weights and strength, will fill a w.int long felt. In many instances an engineer has to refer to an 

 English authority for information in regard to building timbers. Railroad classifications are based upon such infor- 

 mation as can be obtained only by approximation. Consequently this work, when completed, will be in great 

 demand. 



John J. Ganahl, president Ganahl Ijumbcr Company, St. Louis, Mo.: 



We consider it of very great importance for the Government to make the necessary appropriations for obtaining 

 the required tests by scientific investigations, to ascertain the strength and durability of the ditferent kinds and 

 qualities of our forest products. We trust that you will use every opportunity for obtaining the necessary funtb to 

 make the desired tests, to enable us to give the inforniation wanted to our customers in order to guide them to use 

 the proper kind of lumber in the construction of the difierent classes of buildings. 



