107 



(i\-er the splice. Whether the sphced ])ile wiiiild l)e ecoiKiniical wciuld (le])enil iipiin the 

 relation between sjilieing cost and the saN'int; in creosoted material. 



Life of Creosoted Piling 



Respeclini; (he a\'erage lite possilde ior creosoted ])iling, all estimates exceed 

 those for other forms of chemical protection imder comparable conditions. Mr. G. F. 

 Nicholson, Los Angeles Harljor Engineer, places the life at from 20 to 30 years in 

 San Pedro Bay; tlie extensive service records accumidated by this Committee place 

 the life in .San Francisco Bay at from LS to 25 years on the San Francisco side and from 

 20 to 30 years elsewhere in the Bay. It is likely that a similar range of from LS to 30 

 years' life couldln' secnred in all Pacific Coast harbors, the actual jioinl attained bt'ing 

 dependent, as it is here, partly on the severity of borer attack, but chiefl\- on the 

 intelligence and care used to protect the integrity of the creosoted shell, throughout 

 the whole course of the piling from the creosoting ])lant to its jilace in the structure, 

 and thereafter in preventing "pike pole inspections." hi this connection the fact, 

 pre\'iously discussed in this report, is especialK' important that, as shown by a recent 

 thorough-going rejiair survey of nearh' the whole .San h'rancisco waterfront, by the 

 Board of State Harbor Commissioners, 80 per cent of all holes in the treated shell of 

 creosoted piles through which borer entrance had been gained and attack started 

 were caused by clogging the piles, without subsequenth' plugging the holes. These 

 points of handling and construction practice, so necessary to the use of creosoted 

 construction materials with results of maximum effectiveness, are discussed in detail 

 at page 73 of the Marine Structures chajiter. 



