112 



USE OF WOOD BY RAILROADS. 



turned to profitable use by engineers for holding in place the new deposits 

 of mud formed under the shelter of jetties and other hydraulic improve- 

 ments. 



The roots of cottonwoods and willows have a habit pf seeking the 

 water of wells and water-pipes, and of choking them up entirely by 

 the thick mat of roots that they throw out. We have known such a mass 

 6 feet long, and of the size of the well, cut out with sharp spades and 

 drawn to the surface. 



STATISTICS OF THE USE OF WOOD BY RAILROADS AS FUEL AND 



FOR TIES. 



The building and maintenance of railroads involves a large demand 

 for timber, and the supply of these wants by cultivation must in future 

 engage the attention of the companies by which these lines are owned, 

 as is already the case with several of them in the Western States and 

 on the Pacitic Coast. The extent of railroads has more than doubled in 

 the United States since the late war, as will be seen by the following 

 table : 



Railroads in the United Slatea at the end of each year since 18G4. 



'N. Y., N. J., Pa., Del., Md., and W. Va. 



* Va., N. 0., S. C, Ga., Ma., Ala., Miss., La, Tox., Ark.^ Tenn., and Ky. 

 »Nov., Cal., Orog., and Wash. 



The relative amount of 

 railroads in different sec- 

 tions of the Union is shown 

 in the accompanying dia- 

 gram. 



A circular was addressed 

 in March, 1877, to the su- 

 perintendents of railroads 

 with the view of obtaining 

 facts and the results of ex- 

 perience in regard to the 

 use of wood as fuel, and the 

 kinds of timber used as 

 ties, with statements as to 

 relative durability and as 

 to the results of experi- 

 ments that might have 

 been tried with the view of 

 rendering them less liable 

 to decay. Returns were re- 

 ceived from 38 companies, ^i'^s of railroads In different years. 



representing 8,782^ miles of railroad and about 11,500 miles of track. 



