HARDWOOD RECORD 



25 



THE NEW FOREST TRODUCTS LABORATORY AT MADISON, WIS. 



ciple of these machines is fundamentally the 

 same, a constantly increasing load being ap- 

 plied and results recorded at regular inter- 

 vals. By using this apparatus the compressive 

 strength of certain varieties of wood (the 

 force exerted when it is being squeezed from 

 opposite sides), the shearing strength which 

 is practically tested when two forces act in op- 

 posite directions one along side of the other 

 as in wagon axles close to the hub, and the 

 bending strength, which must be ascertained 

 in connection with a large variety of products 

 of manufacture, can all be ascertained. The 

 possibilities of these machines in determining 

 the adaptability of certain varieties of wood 

 for certan uses are unlimited. 



In the same room machines on a larger 

 scale for demonstrating the twisting strength 

 of the various pieces, the breaking strength of 

 car sills and the spike-holding strength of 

 different varieties of railroad ties are in con- 

 stant operation. The laboratory has not 

 been in operation long enough to have accom- 

 plished anything which might be recorded as 

 authoritative records along any one line, 

 though many of the senior students of the 

 university have been and are working out 

 theses in this way. Of course, white oak is 

 known by everybody to be by far the most 

 efficient species for tie purposes. It has 

 been demonstrated that creosoting is seldom 

 detrimental to a tie physically, and is very 

 often the means of softening up the tissue, 

 thus securing greater elasticity and hence 

 greater spike holding ability. 



The wood preserving department is 

 equipped with specially designed treating 

 plants for all the various recognized ways of 

 preserving wood. The largest apparatus, the 

 zinc chloride plant, has a cylinder in which 

 can be treated about twenty ties at a time. 

 This plant, as also the creosoting plant, the 

 open tank department, and the other equip- 

 ments, is worked out in a most systematic 



Bud yet most practical manner in every de- 

 tail. Experiments will be conducted with 

 a view to determining the relative value of 

 rarious preservatives, the proper heat pressure 

 and time for a most complete impregnation 

 under all conditions, the possibilities of treat- 

 ing different woods, and the added durability 

 and other changes resulting from such treat- 

 ment. One of the most interesting demon- 

 strations in this department is the "rotting 

 pit." This was a small cellar admitting a 

 very limited amount of sunlight, the tem- 

 perature being maintained at 80 degrees 

 Fahrenheit, and the relative humidity at 100 

 degrees. The purpose is to demonstrate in as 

 short a period as possible the action of dif- 

 ferent fungi upon the various varieties of 

 treated and untreated wood. The germs are 

 first grown outside and the genus and species 

 accurately ascertained. The compartment and 

 wood specimen is then sterilized with steam 

 and placed in one of the several glass com- 

 partments where the fungus spreads at a 

 remarkable rate and results come quickly. 



As stated, the pulp wood department repre- 

 sents a paper plant complete in every detail 

 from the soda and sulphite digestors to the 

 cloth dryers and roUs. It is unnecessary to 

 go into detail in this connection, but is perti- 

 nent to remark that this is undoubtedly a 

 department which will be of more economic 

 value than almost any other. Experiments 

 have been and will continually be made de- 

 termining the possibilities of utilizing vege- 

 table fibers of all kinds in the manufacture of 

 paper. Extensive experiments have already 

 been made with corn stalks and there is on 

 exhibition a specimen of paper and a dis- 

 cussion of the paper making possibilities of 

 the many different forms of vegetable growth 

 experimented with. It is probably only a 

 question of time when it will be demonstrated 

 that the old idea of looking upon the varieties 

 of pulp wood now in use as the only possi- 



bilities will be successfully combated and this 

 country again be placed in an independent 

 position for its source of pulp wood. 



Pure alcohol is being distilled from various 

 woods in the distillation department. Ex- 

 periments are in operation constantly with a 

 view to manufacturing pure alcohol econom- 

 ically from various forms of woods waste, 

 and also with the turpentine producing prop- 

 erties of the various species. 



As stated, the offices of the institution are 

 on the second floor. Here the various de- 

 partments are represented and here also 

 Assistant Forester Hall and Director Cline of 

 the laboratory have their own private rooms. 

 The chemical laboratory is fully equipped for 

 analysis of creosote and various other pre- 

 servatives, and for determining the amount 

 of water in creosoted wood and otjier points 

 of value to the wood industry. On the other 

 .side is the drafting and blueprinting room in 

 which all the mechanical drawing and blue- 

 printing in connection with the laboratory is 

 turned out. A small room capable of being 

 darkened contains photo-micrographic ap- 

 jiaratus for photographing wood sections in 

 detail and for displaying these photographs 

 on a screen. 



The equipment as outlined above represents 

 facilities which are not equaled by any similar 

 plant in the world. Various departments are 

 in charge of technically trained men, and the 

 students of the university will be given an 

 opportunity to obtain training along the same 

 lines. Every effort will be made by the gov- 

 ernment and the university to keep the labora- 

 tory up to date in all particulars and to 

 render all possible assistance to the lumber 

 trade and in every way to promote the in- 

 terests of conservation by constantly closer 

 utilization of woods product and woods waste. 

 It is most assuredly up to the lumbermen to 

 co-operate in this^ most meritorious effort in 

 every way possible. It is not charity on their 



