634 Forestry Quarterly 



higher; oak ties run up to $2.00, while treated beech ties run 

 somewhat lower and up to $1.66 at most. 



An interesting discussion — made more interesting on account 

 of the war — was published in 1912 by General von Liebert, 

 comparing metal ties and wooden ties from the standpoint of 

 military value. He points out that the requirements of metal ties 

 as regards road-bed, fastenings, and tamping are such as to make 

 them tmdesirable in war time, while the wooden tie fits into any 

 situation and can be fastened to the rail much more simply. He 

 advises, therefore, on the frontiers to use only wooden ties, also 

 because restoration of destroyed tracks would be more easily 

 effected. (Half of Germany's mileage is on metal.) 



Considering that in 1910 about 5 billion cubic feet of wood for 

 tie purposes had to be imported, it would appear that there is no 

 need from the forestry point of view to advocate the wooden tie. 



Vom deutschen Holzschwellenmarkt. Centralblatt fur das gesammte Forst- 

 wesen, January and February, March and April, 1914, pp. 76, 77, 162-165. 



Die Bucheneisenbahnschwelle. Centralblatt fiir das gesammte Forstwesen, 

 December, 1913, pp. 559-561. 



STATISTICS AND HISTORY 



The Development and Road Improvement 

 Forestry in Act of 1909 provided for the creation of a 



United Development Fund and a Development 



Kingdom Commission, and with the end in view of 



promoting the economic development of 

 the United Kingdom. The fund now aggregates $14,500,000, and 

 may be applied for agriculture and rural industries, forestry, 

 reclamation and drainage, harbors, inland navigation, fisheries, etc. 

 As defined in the Act, forestry includes the conducting of inquiries, 

 experiments and research for the promoting of forestry and teach- 

 ing methods of afforestation, and the purchase and planting of 

 smtable areas. Money from the Development Fund may either 

 be granted or loaned, and applications for advances are received 

 only from public bodies, not from individuals. The Commissioners 

 have no executive powers, do not make grants or loans, or carry 

 out any schemes, but merely act in an advisory capacity to the 

 Treasury. 



From this report we find that through the recommendations of 

 the Commissioners the Board was granted $32,500 for 1913-14 for 



