American Forest Congress 283 



charge on an untreated loblolly pine tie which has to 

 be replaced every five years is $0.12, while for the 

 creosoted tie it is only $0.06. 



Looking at the problem from the second standpoint, 

 one considers the original investment, and not the 

 annual charge. Taking the same case of loblolly pine, 

 an untreated tie costs $0.40. If this is treated with 

 creosote one must add $0.45 to this cost; in other 

 words, a new tie and 5 cents more ; while if one treats 

 such a tie with zinc chloride one adds on only $0.16, 

 or about one-third the cost of a new tie. 



For the European investor who deals with timbers 

 of a high initial cost a comparison such as the one just 

 mentioned does not occur. The French beech tie cost- 

 ing $1 or more and lasting four years when untreated, 

 will last 25 to 30 years when treated with creosote, at 

 a cost of 75 cents or thereabouts. It is obviously the 

 correct thing for these conditions to use the most 

 expensive treatment. The number of ties treated is 

 comparatively small, the economic conditions are more 

 or less settled, and the investment of 75 cents per tie 

 for treatment is not felt as a hardship. 



When we turn to our condition in this country we 

 have a different problem to face. While the spending 

 of 45 cents for treatment of a 40-cent tie may give 

 good results, it would be a poor investment, for the 

 risk would be too great. After five or six years the 

 tie sizes may be changed, and by that time only a small 

 portion of the investment made in the treatment would 

 be realized. An investment of 45 cents additional on 

 a 40-cent tie lasting four years would furthermore 

 mean the immediate expenditure of a very large sum 

 of money, which would show no return until more than 

 eight years had elapsed. This sort of investment is 

 not profitable, although it doubtless will come at some 

 future period. 



