April 1902.] The Hardy Catalpa.' 127 



CLEVELAND, CINCINNATI, CHICAGO & ST. Louis RAILWAY COMPANY. 

 (Big Four Route.) 



CINCINNATI, OHIO, January 28, 1902. 



Referring to yours of January 15, in regard to catalpa. We have some ca- 

 talpa ties in our track that have been in a large number of years, some of 

 them fifteen and twenty years. They are apparently sound as to condition 

 of timber, but are pretty badly cut by the rails. I believe, however, that by 

 using tie-plates under the rail the catalpa will make an excellent tie. If 

 they will last twenty years it will be economical to furnish tie-plates for 

 use with them. Yours truly, GEO. W. KITTREDGE, Chief Engineer. 



ST. Louis SOUTHWESTERN RAILWAY COMPANY. 

 ST. Louis SOUTHWESTERN RAILWAY COMPANY OF TEXAS. (Cotton-belt Route.) 



TYLER, TEX., January 31, 1902. 



In replying to your favor of the 27th inst., I beg to advise that I have had 

 no experience with the catalpa as a tie timber. We use it on this road, how- 

 ever, for fence-posts and find it very satisfactory, and consider the life of 

 it at about twenty years. There is no doubt but it would make a very last- 

 ing track tie, but had better probably be used in connection with metal tie- 

 plates. It may be at a disadvantage at holding the spikes on sharp curves, but 

 would, in my opinion, make an excellent tie on straight track. . . . 



Yours very truly, M. L. LYNCH, Chief Engineer. 



EVANSVILLE & TERRE HAUTE RAILWAY COMPANY, 



EVANSVILLE, IND., January 15, 1902. 



Replying to your favor of the 21st inst., in regard to catalpa timber, we are 

 not using this class of timber for ties ; we are using it, however, for fence-posts, 

 and can say that we have used the same for the last fifteen years. We find 

 it very desirable timber for this purpose, but it is scarce in our part of the 

 country and at the present time very hard to obtain. E. H. PFAFFLIN, 



Acting Superintendent and Chief Engineer, 



HOUSTON & TEXAS CENTRAL RAILROAD COMPANY, 



HOUSTON, TEX., February 5, 1902. 



In reply to your favor of January 29, ult.: We have had no experience with ca- 

 talpa for tie or post timber, but would think that it would do well. The soft 

 woods, such as cypress, cedar, and pine, give splendid results when "tie-plated" 

 so as to prevent the crushing of the fiber by the rail. Cypress is largely used by 

 our company for ties, and seems to be particularly adapted to our moist climate 

 in resisting decay. Yours, J. M. LEE, Chief Engineer. 



THE TEXAS & PACIFIC RAILWAY COMPANY, 



DALLAS, TEX., February 14, 1902. 



I have yours of the 12th inst. We have never used any catalpa ties. / know 

 something of the value of catalpa as posts. I know where posts of this 

 wood have been in use as much as thirty years, down in Louisiana, which 

 is as hard a climate on timber as any in the United States. 



From my knowledge, 1 would say that it holds the spike very well, and, 

 while it is soft, yet the almost universal use of tie-plates now overcomes the 

 objection of the softness of the wood. For this reason, lean see no reason 

 ivhy its use should not be entirely satisfactory. 



Yours truly, B. S. WATHEN, Chief Engineer. 



