78 Forestry Quarterly. 



placed in the track, in order to avoid as far as possible the leach- 

 ing out of the preservative and corrosion of the spikes. 



"(2^) If a nine-sixteenth-inch diamond-pointed cut spike is 

 driven into previously bored hole three-eighths to seven-six- 

 teenth inch in diameter it will hold better than an ordinary c\i\ 

 spike driven directly into the tie. 



''(24) From the results of tests thus far made it appears highly 

 desirable to use screw spikes whenever possible. When they are 

 used holes should first be bored deep enough in the tie to allow 

 a space between the base of the hole and the point of the spike, or 

 the hole may be bored entirely through the tie . 



"(25) It is not possible at present to say which of the various 

 types of tie-plates are best. The data thus far secured, however, 

 point to the advisability of using heavy metal plates with flat or 

 only slightly corrugated bottoms. When screw spikes are used, 

 the heads of the spikes should be protected from lateral thrust by 

 a boss of metal fitting snuglv under the head." 



S. J. R. 



Some Facts about Treating Railroad Ties. By W. F. Goltra. 

 Cleveland, Ohio. 1912. Pp. 105. 



The author of this interesting booklet is president of the W. F. 

 Goltra Tie Company, formerly general tie agent of the New York 

 Central Lines west of Buffalo. He has not hesitated to depart 

 from the beaten path and his conclusions as to the most efficient 

 methods of preserving ties are in many ways at decided variance 

 to those commonly stated. Following is a summary of his 

 recommendations : 



"i. It is useless and impracticable to group ties for treatment 

 according to species, proportion of heartwood and sapwood, 

 degree of seasoning, etc. 



"2. Ties should be thoroughly seasoned (preferably by arti- 

 ficial method) and treated to total refusal. 



"3. Zinc chloride alone or in combination with creosote oil is 

 more economical than creosote alone in treating railroad ties to 

 refusal." 



The several steps in Mr. Goltra's method of treatment are as 

 follows : 



Immediately upon arrival of the ties or timbers at the treating 



