THREE THOUSAND A MILE 



pends upon several well defined conditions: first, 

 ability to resist ordinary decay; second, resistance 

 to the crushing force of heavy rails and equipment; 

 third, proper density to prevent the loosening and 

 pulling of spikes; and lastly, a sufficient supply to 

 avoid exorbitant cost. Once upon a time oak filled 



J 



The 125 million new ties required by the railroads of the United States 



every year would be sufficient to carry a track five times around the 



world at the equator. 



every requirement, but today our oak forests have 

 been so depleted that the railroads find difliculty in 

 competing with woodwork manufacturers, furniture 

 makers and countless other industries. This condi- 



