422 Forestry Quarterly 



These ties were taken out on account of crushing and breaking 

 down under the rail, thus being unsafe to remain in the track. 

 Ties were constructed of cement, iron girder and oak block. 

 There were two blocks of concrete 7 inches thick, 9 inches wide 

 and 3 feet long. There was an iron girder that ran through the 

 blocks that was 2 inches thick and 2 inches wide ; there was an 

 oak block 3 inches thick and 10 inches wide and 24 inches long 

 set on top of the concrete tie to use for cushioning the rail and 

 to spike rail. There was a wooden plug in the concrete to hold 

 the spike in place. 



"These ties weighed about 450 pounds, and when track was 

 surfaced the ballast had to be dug out from between the ties. 

 If this was not done the rail would lift up and ties would stay in 

 ballast on account of their weight. 



"When track heaved slightly in the winter it was caused to 

 become slightly uneven. The ties under the heavy part of the 

 track would crush and break, and this left the track unsafe. We 

 were compelled to place oak track ties between the concrete ties 

 to hold track to gauge. After six years' test I have concluded 

 that ties of this make are a failure." — Canadian Forestry Journal. 



Dr. H. S. Graves, Chief Forester of the U. S. Forest Service, 

 has gone to Alaska to inspect the Alaskan forest reserves. 



Mr. H. R. MacMillan, Chief Forester of British Columbia, at 

 present on a world tour as special Trade Commissioner for the 

 Dominion Government, reports in the July 15th issue of the 

 Canada Lumberman "England's War-time Requirements" from 

 the timber trade. 



According to a report from the Department of Trade and Com- 

 merce of Canada, an order has been placed for 800,000 feet of 

 Pacific Coast spruce, or Silver spruce. This is said to be the only 

 satisfactory timber for aeroplane construction, one of the im- 

 portant qualities being its clear straight grain. It is used also 

 in thin stock in building certain types of naval vessels. 



A "Traveling" Forest Products Exposition is contemplated by 

 the originator of the Forest Products Exposition held at Chicago 

 and other cities last year. This exposition would consist of a 



