Crossties in Northern New Mexico, 409 



become pitchy and burly, which renders them difficult to work. 

 Generally, however, Western Yellow pine is not difficult to work 

 but is heavy to haul. Douglas fir is usually sound, being the 

 least defective of the species used for ties. It makes the most 

 desirable ties because of its durability and lightness, but is not 

 liked by the majority of tie makers because of its hardness. 

 White fir is very soft and easy to work, and for this reason is 

 preferred by any of the tie makers. It is often seriously infected 

 with stump and heart rot. The policy of seldom marking White fir 

 above 18 to 20 inches D. B. H. has been adopted for this locality, 

 because trees above this diameter usually show considerable rot, 

 White fir makes the least desirable tie because the wood is soft. 

 brittle, and does not hold the spikes firmly. When creosoted it 

 makes a fairly satisfactory tie as evidenced by the fact that the 

 railroad company, in this section of the country, accepts white 

 fir ties together with those of the other species without discrimi- 

 nation. 



Trees from 10 to 16 inches D. B. H. are suitable for hewn ties, 

 although the tie makers prefer those from 11 to 13 inches D. B. H. 

 At the lower elevations where cutting is now in progress the trees 

 average 2.7 ties per tree. This figure is kept rather low, due to 

 the marking for cutting of all suppressed and defective trees, 

 from which at least one tie can be made, and the short-boled 

 timber toward the lower limit of the Yellow pine type. 



Three classes of hewn ties are made; squares, firsts, and 

 seconds'. The butts of large trees are made into square ties, 

 which are not less than 10 inches on the face, and do not exceed 

 8 inches in thickness and 8 feet long. First class ties are 8 inches 

 wide, 7 inches thick, and 8 feet long. Only one inch increase is 

 allowed in thickness or length. vSecond class ties must be 7 

 inches thick, so long as the log is large enough to permit, and 

 under no circumstances less than 6 inches thick and 6 inches wide. 

 No ties under 6 inches by 6 inches, or over 11 inches by 8 inches, 

 are accepted by the tie inspector. 



The company's agreements with all of their tie makers contain 

 a stipulation which states that all timber of the proper size for 

 hewn ties must be cut and if sound shall be made into ties. It 

 not sound, it must be cut into every four feet sufficiently to show 

 the defect. All ties must be smooth and of uniform width and 



