CHAPTER XIII 

 FOREST UTILIZATION TIMBER PRESERVATION 



1. HISTORY AND IMPORTANCE 



From the earliest days of civilization several methods have been 

 employed to extend the life of wood in service. In ancient Roman 

 and Greek times wood was charred or painted to prevent decay under 

 exposure. The preservative treatment of timber has been actively 

 practiced in Europe for over 100 years, and practically all cross ties, 

 telephone and telegraph poles, posts, grape stakes, and many other 

 materials exposed to decay are treated with some preservative. 



In the United States timber preservation has made rapid strides 

 since 1900. The first plant was established in 1873 at Pascagoula, 

 Mississippi, on the Louisville and Nashville railroad. In 1904 there 

 were 33 plants with an annual capacity of 250,000 b.f. of material. 

 In 1933 there were 210 plants in existence, of which 187 were active 

 and producing 1,500,000,000 b.f of material. Many hundred million 

 dollars are invested in small and large treating plants to increase the 

 life of various forms of wood in service, particularly cross ties, poles, 

 and lumber that may be subjected to conditions of decay. 



Timber preservatives provide a means of more intensely utilizing 

 the products of the forest. In increasing the life of timber by an in- 

 expensive method of preservation a great service is rendered the con- 

 sumer and our forest resources are conserved. 



Authorities estimate that the annual loss of wood due to decay 

 amounts to more than 7 million b.f., or over 70% of all the cost of 

 wood destruction. Some of our most durable species such as cypress, 

 black locust, white oak, and cedar are not available for many inex- 

 pensive forms of construction. Less durable woods, some of the pines, 

 Douglas fir, and many of the hardwoods may be made to serve many 

 useful purposes when treated with preservatives. 



2. MATERIALS TREATED 



The principal materials and the quantity of each treated are as 

 follows: 



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