112 



into six divisions : A, B, (J, T>, E and Culls. Five hundred spokes were 

 procured from the Bannister Wheel Company of Muncie, Ind., and were 

 tested under a direct load as shown in the diagram, and the maximum load, 

 together with the amount of bending sidewise before fracture was noted. 

 This combination of maxinunn load and amount of side bending gives a 

 factor which represents toughness and shock-resisting capacity. The re- 

 sults from the spoke tests sliow more than 50 per cent, error in the present 

 grading system, which is largely due to the traditional prejudice and con- 

 sequent discrimination against red hickory. No red spokes are now al- 

 lowed in the A and B grades, yet these tests show that a large proportion 

 of the red spokes now included in the lower grades should be, because of 

 their strength and toughness, included in the highest gi'ades. It appears, 

 also, that weight tor weight, tlie red spokes and the mixed red and white 

 spokes, are f'uliy as strong as the entirely white spokes. These tests will 

 be supplemented by tests 011 various hickory bugg.y shafts containing typical 

 defects. Such tests have an interest not only to the genral public, in that 

 a drain on a limited class of material is somewhat decreased, but they have 

 an interest also to the gi'ower of timber, because they increase the market 

 value of a considerable ])ortioii of the product of the forests. 



Tests have also lieen made on a number of wagon axles. Various 

 species of woods, not only from the western forests, but from eastern 

 forests, have been made up into axles at a mill and have been submitted 

 to the laboratory for test. At the present time the series is complete upon 

 hickoi'y and ma])le axles 01 three difTerent designs, and the method of at- 

 tacking the problem and of determining the fjualities of the axles by actual 

 test will be of interest from a scientific standpoint. (Referring to the 

 photograph of an axle under test, the method of loading and measuring 

 and the behavior of the axle is shown in detail, and the various quantities 

 entering into an estimation of the value of the axle are explained.) 



Another example is in a series of tests to determine the proper gi-ad- 

 ing of pine harvester poles. A large part of this material is shipped up 

 from the south to such markets as Chicago, and is there graded by the 

 manufacturers, the defective material being thrown out at a loss to the 

 shipper, not only of the cost of the material, but of the freight. It becomes 

 important, therefore, to know whether the poles thrown out might be used. 

 Poles containing different classes of defects were tested, and it was found 

 that at the present time there is an unjustifiable prejudice against the use 

 of poles containing a considerable per cent, of sapwood. 



