April 1902.] The Hardy Catalpa. 123 



cheap ties at the present time, this is not the case for the majority of 

 American roads, and particularly for those of the Eastern states and 

 the upper Mississippi basin, where the greatest mileage and heaviest 

 railroad business is found. 



There seems to be no more satisfactory outlet to the difficulty than 

 for the railways to raise their own ties in forest plantations adjacent 

 to their rights of way. 



For this purpose Catalpa speciosa possesses more and greater ad- 

 vantages than any other indigenous tree. It is readily grown over a 

 wide range of territory and on a great variety of soils. The living 

 tree has no known fungus enemies, and is subject to the attack of but 

 one species of insect. The growth of the tree is, rapid and its pro- 

 ductiveness from the timber standpoint high, in consequence. Its rela- 

 tively extremely small amount of bark and sap-wood is another 

 highly advantageous feature which enhances its timber value. 



Concerning the practical worth of catalpa wood for tie timber, as 

 determined by actual experience, some data fortunately exist. A 

 pamphlet now comparatively rare, to which reference has already been 

 made in this bulletin, entitled "Additional Facts and Information in 

 Relation to the Catalpa Tree, Catalpa bignonioides. and its Variety, 

 speciosa" by.E. E. Barney, a railroad-car builder, of Dayton, Ohio, 

 appeared in 1879. On page 9, under the caption, "Will catalpa make 

 a serviceable railroad tie?" Mr. Barney says: 



"This is a matter of conjecture in part. I think it will, for the following rea- 

 sons : Its durability is unquestionable ; it is very elastic ; and, contrary to what 

 most suppose, it is very tough. I subjected pieces one inch square to a breaking 

 pressure twelve inches between supports. 



Catalpa broke under a pressure of 703 pounds. 



Ash " " 800 " 



Oak " " " 709 " ) 



Oak " " " 577 " [ Mean, 809 pounds. 



Oak " " " 1U1 " ) 



The catalpa deflected three times as much as the ash or oak before breaking. 



"Five thousand pounds pressure on blocks one inch square by three inches 

 long compressed : 



Oak ................ 10-16 inch. 



10-16 

 8-16 



Norway pine 6-16 inch. 



White walnut 5-16 



Yellow pine 6-16 



Catalpa. . . .... 7-16 Black walnut 10-16 



" . . ... 9-16 



" 7-16 



White pine 5-16 



" 8-16 



Ash 14-16 



6-16 



"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 ago, and 

 twelve one year ago. All hold their spikes well and show no signs of mashing 

 more than oak on each side of them, and over both of which heavily loaded trains 

 pass almost hourly. The road-master, who has watched them with interest, 

 says he has had no better ties on the line of his road. 



