390 ILLINOIS STATE ACADEMY OF SCIENCE 



sink in water. How complete is the penetration of the 

 fluid is shown in the cross section (Exhibit 1) of a pile 

 which shows that every portion of the pile has been af- 

 fected, with small areas at the side of the center showing 

 less pronounced effect. 



The charge after being with-drawn is stacked in the 

 open in the material yards until it is needed. Power der- 

 ricks, which lift the entire content of a cradle, are used 

 in loading and unloading ties. Where the loading of ties 

 in a box car precludes the use of power, an ingenious trol- 

 ley system facilitates the rapid loading by hand. 



The results obtained by Mr. Waterman in timber pres- 

 ervation are set forth in his recent report to the officials 

 of the Burlington Road, from which report the following 

 conclusions are presented: — That there are two causes 

 for the failure of ties, 1st., decay due to moisture, etc., 

 2nd, failure due to mechanical causes. Since moisture is 

 a great factor in decay, observations by the above author- 

 ity show that ties last longer, other things being equal, 

 west of Nebraska points than east. Observations of re- 

 corded portions of track show that such woods as hickory, 

 poplar, cottonwood, elm and red-oak compare favorably 

 with white oak, as ties, when given preservative treat- 

 ment, whereas the tendency of each of these woods to de- 

 cay when in contact with damp soil is common knowledge. 

 The accompanying chart (after F. S. Shinn, Superin- 

 tendent of the Galesburg Plant) shows that, of 3200 zinc- 

 treated ties, only 15% had been removed after 17 years, 

 while 26% yet remained in service after 22 years, where- 

 as untreated ties are shown to last about 5 years, in case 

 of white oak, and less time in case of the woods mentioned 

 above. The preservative treatment, then, conserves both 

 timber supply and replacement costs. 



An examination of the table appended will make ap- 

 parent how inferior woods, by treatment, may be made 

 to do the work of the more expensive and relatively- 

 scarce white oak ties. 



When treated by the most commonly used card pro- 

 cess the following show that other woods compare favor- 

 ably with similarly treated white oak ties, in serviceabil- 

 ity, where under similar conditions, 8.8% of a number 



