WTLL CATALPA MAKK A SKR\TCKARLK RAILROAD TIK? 



This is matter of conjecture in part. I think it will, for the 

 following reasons; Its durahility is unquestioned; it is very 

 elastic, and contrary to what most suppose, toujrh. 1 subjected 

 pieces of ratalpa, oak and ash, one inch square, to a break- 

 ing pressure, twelve inches between supports. The catnlpa 

 broke under a pressure of 70:> pounds: ash, SIM) pounds: one 

 piece of oak broke at 577-, one at 701), and one at 1141 pounds. 

 The catalpa deflected three times as much as the oak or ash 

 before breaking. Five thousand pounds pressure on a block of 

 oak. three inches louo- and one inch square, compressed it to ,' 

 of an inch; a second block was compressed to j", and a third to 

 r H of an inch. The same pressure compressed one piece of 

 catalpa. same si/e, to , 7 6 , one to , T H , one to , ! ' ; . and one to ,}-,. White 

 pine was compressed to ,'];; Xorway to ^: white walnut to ,; 

 yellow ]>ine to ," ; black walnut to jjj and ,; ash compressed 

 one way of the <:rain J^, another /j.. 



These samples were taken at random, and would indicate 

 that catalpa will bear the pressure to which it is subjected 

 when used as railroad ties. Two catalpa railroad ties were 

 placed in the track, near our office, five years a<r<>. and twelve 

 one year aro. All hold their spikes well, and show no si<rns 

 of mashing more than oak each side of them, and over both of 

 which heavily loaded trains pass almost hourly. The road- 

 master, who has watched them with much interest, says he- 

 has no better tics on the line of his road. 



I). Axtcll, Superintendent of the Missouri division of the 

 Iron Mountain Railroad, writes, that "catalpa ties placed in 

 the track of his road ten years a,iro are perfect Iv sound, that the 

 rail has worn info some of them from one-half an inch to an 

 inch, and it has been conclusively proven, that the catalpa is 

 far superior for tics to white oak or any other kind of timber 

 iiro\vii in that latitude." 



Two VAKIKTIKS OF CATALPA. 



There are two varieties of catalpa in Ohio, Indiana, Illinois. 

 Missouri. Kentucky, and Tennessee, ^rown for shade, one of 

 which at least is native to the forests of the last live States. 

 They vary fully three weeks in time of blooming. The earlier 

 blooming, called also Spcciosa. and the hardy, when irrown 

 sinirly. is taller, strai^hter. with more compact top. with 

 whiter and larger blossoms, and longer and larger seed-pods, 

 but less in number, and is usually the handsomer tree. After 

 a few years the bark jro\vs darker, is furrowed and rourh, re- 

 sembling black locust or elm of same age. It is much more 



