248 CREOSOTING TIMBER. [Feb. 



CREOSOTING TIMBER. 



PERHAPS no gift of practical chemistry to modern advancement 

 has been greater than this process of E. S. Bethell. Is not 

 the odour of railway sleepers suiJiciently familiar ? What in more 

 than one way lies at the bottom of our travelling progress ! Tlie 

 manner in which this process has been discussed, even in this 

 journal, well betokens the mood of the intelligent public towards 

 new discoveries. The modern Herr Doesterswivel is the manu- 

 facturing chemist. He is expected as a matter of course to effect 

 wonders outrivalling those of ancient Egypt by a generation who 

 have no time to wonder. " Give us results," it says ; " never mind 

 your processes. If we don't get your results, though we neglect 

 your precautions, then, out on your pretensions." There was no 

 more uniquely successful exhibit in tlie late Forestry Exhibition 

 than that of James Eoss & Co., Ealkirk, flimiliar to our readers 

 through our advertising columns. Yet the mass of visitors seemed 

 to prefer ready to hand application chemicals which even the 

 unlettered Hodge could apply. In the same way, we are from time 

 to time told, " Oh, steeping palings in tar won't do. We treated 

 so many yards with the brush, and had miserable results ! " Now, 

 from all such correspondents the chemical manufacturer demands 

 an arrest of judgment. " Obey the natural conditions," says he, 

 " under which true success can only follow." The proprietors of 

 the great timber - preserving works depicted in tlie annexed 

 engraving, warn landowners against attempting to preserve their 

 own wood ; they will supply properly-prepared material cheaper. 

 Why this is so, may best be seen in an account of the method 

 jjursued at the great sleeper-preserving works of the F]-ench railway 

 La Covi'pagnie dc I'Est, given in the Revue dcs Eaux. d Fords for 

 January. 



If the reader will kindly study our engraving, he will find a 

 bird's-eye view of the details of such a manufactory. The wood 

 prepared for the process brought in this case by sea transit, — the 

 large cylinders, in one case open, with attendant feeding waggons in 

 which the creosoting is to be effected,- — other waggons with this 

 preserving material from municipal gasworks scattered over the 

 country, and the necessary steam-engines and boilers for causing 

 vacuums and injections within the cylinders, are the main features 

 of the picture. But, as has already been pointed out to our readers, 

 at page 146, every such coal tar oil is not equally preservative. 

 Indeed, much discussion prevails wliether the preservative properties 

 do not arise from tlie destruction of <ferms rather tlian tlie forma- 



