50 



which a suggested specification is presented in the specifications sec- 

 tion of this report. The Committee believes that the best insurance of 

 right results is to have inspection of creosoted piling for final accep- 

 tance done as it hangs in the driver gins, where every defect may 

 be seen and examined. On the practicability of such a requirement see 

 further under Practical Difficulties. 



Preparation and Treatment 



Creosoted piling should be carefully inspected at the creosoting 

 plant, as to the dimensions, form and condition of the piling used, and 

 during treatment especially as to the oils, to see that they are free 

 from adulterants and otherwise fulfill specifications, and as to the 

 penetration of the piling by the oil as required. Creosoted piles should 

 be bored in the course of inspection, in accordance with the tentative 

 specification presented in this report. 



Handling Creosoted Piling 



After having the piling properly treated it is equally important 

 that it be carefully handled from the treating plant to the job. Too 

 much emphasis cannot be placed on the handling and care of creosoted 

 piling. Once the outer protective shell is penetrated, the value of the 

 'pile is largely destroyed, if it is not repaired. 



It is very unfortunate that there is no commercial creosoting plant 

 located on San Francisco Bay. At present it is necessary to purchase 

 all of these materials from the plants located in the Northwest, in- 

 volving a maximum amount of transportation and handling and con- 

 sequent damage. Being so far from the source of supply, it is neces- 

 sary to keep creosoted piling on hand at all times, which also adds 

 to its chances of being damaged before being used. All of this hand- 

 ling and storage makes it very difficult to avoid damaging piles. 



The work of this Committee will have been more than repaid if 

 a treating plant should locate in the bay region. In fact it would be 

 economical to pay premiums to have piles treated locally, as they are 

 required for use. Of the creosoted piles driven in structures of Long 

 Wharf, 13,000 pieces, or about 93 per cent were treated at the Southern 

 Pacific Creosoting Plant at West Oakland, and an average of about 

 30 per cent of all the piles in the structure were subjected to attack 

 by marine borers on account of physical damage to the protective shell. 

 These piles received a minimum of handling to the job, yet this large 

 number were found to be damaged. The extent of damage is likely to 

 be in direct relation to the extent to which it is necessary to handle 

 the piles. 



Recently a pile-driving crew in this Bay had a raft of creosoted 

 piling dogged in the center of the raft (Plate 9, Fig. 2). As the rafts- 



