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W. F. Allen, secretary, American Eailway Association, 24 Park Place, New York City: 



I have the honor to inform you that at a meeting of the American Railway Association, held at the Hotel Bruns- 

 wick in this city on Wednesday, October 14, 1891, the following preamble and resolutions were unanimously 

 agreed to: 



Whereas, the American Railway Association, representing 166 railroad companies, operating about 125,000 miles 

 of railroad, feels a deep interest in the "timber tests" now being conducted by the Department of Agriculture: 

 Therefore, 



Resolved, That in the opinion of this association this work is one which earnestly recommends itself to the 

 favorable consideration of CongresR. 



Resolved, That the secretary be directed to furnish a copy of this resolution to the Hon. Jeremiah Rusk, Secretary 

 of Agriculture. 



(9) Expressing admiration of the organization and method of the investigation as planned hy 

 the Division of Forestry, and urging ample appropriations by Congress for prosecuting the proposed 

 investigation to a proper completion. 



Charles B. Dudley, chemist, Pennsylvania Railroad Company, Altodna, Pa. : 

 I should like to say that I most heartily approve of making these tests, and also of the plan which has been out- 

 lined and is being carried out in actually doing the work. There is very great need of careful accurate study of the 

 value of our woods, and no one appreciates this necessity more than those who constantly use our native woods in 

 construction. I sincerely hope that Congress will be so liberal in its provisions for this work that it will go on as 

 speedily as possible. I have the pleasure of Mr. Fernow's acquaintance, and regard him as in every way competent 

 to carry on such a system of tests as has been inaugurated. If I can assist in auy way in securing the necessary 

 funds to bring about the result desired, I hope you wiU not fail to command me. 



C. N. Brown, professor of civil engineering, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio: 



These tests will be of inestimable value to all engineers, and I hope that they may be carried out according to 

 the plans of the Department. I hope that you may be able to prevail upon Congress to make such appropriations as 

 will permit the work being pushed with vigor. 



J. B. White, president Southern Lumber Manufacturers' Association, Grandin, Mo. : 



The Southern Lumber Manufacturers' Association is composed of the largest manufacturers of lumber in nine of 

 the Southern States, and they recently donated $500 to aid Professor .Johnson in purchasing a machine to make experi- 

 mental tests of Southern woods. The work will be of inestimable advantage to the Southern States especially, 

 as their financial resources must largely come from the forests which occupy such a large proportion of their domain. 

 If Congress can be prevailed upon to increase the annual expenditure for this purpose, it will result greatly to the 

 prosperity of the lumber States South. I wish to urge upon you the necessity and importance of this work. 



C. B. Davis, hydraulic and sanitary engineer, Chicago, 111. : 



I desire to urge the great importance of this work, of its vigorous prosecution, and of the necessity and desira- 

 bility of a liberal appropriation being made at the earliest date possible. 



J. W. Schaub, engineer Detroit Bridge and Iron Works, Detroit, Mich. : 



The company with which I am connected is engaged in the designing and building of bridges and similar engi- 

 neering structures, in which timber is used to a considerable extent, and we are thus brought to appreciate the desira- 

 bility of a more extended knowledge of the various properties thereof. * * * As every citizen is more or less 

 directly interested, it seems an eminently proper branch of governmental work. I heartily recommend, therefore, 

 liberal appropriations for the purpose. 



W. Howard White, consulting and executive engineer, 74 Wall street. New York : 

 I trust that the work already done on the testing of United States timber as to physical properties will be con- 

 tinued by appropriations from the next Congress. I am myself engaged upon a set of tables intended to facilitate the 

 correct proportioning of the various parts of wooden buildings. At the base of the calculations upon which these 

 tables are made lies the correct factor of strength to be used; and the satisfactory use of such tables depends there- 

 fore upon the satisfactory determination of this factor. 



P. H. Griffin, president New York Car Wheel Works, Buffalo, N. Y. : 



My attention has been brought to the proposed Government timber tests, and being impressed with the impor- 

 tance and value of the work, I trust Congress will see fit to make the necessary appropriations to carry it out. I 

 deem the result one of great benefit to the public. 



George E. Mann, city engineer, Bufialo, N. Y. : 

 Being aware that the limited appropriation for the investigation of American timbers delays the obtaining 

 prompt and valuable results, I write to urge the recommendation for a larger appropriation and such as the impor- 

 tance of the work demands. 



