Science in Couservaiion During War Times 69 
lines. It is estimated that these connectors permitted the con- 
struction of -wooden structures in 1942 alone, which otherwise 
would have had to have been made of steely to such an extent as 
to -have saved over 400,CMD0 tons of steel. 
A somewhat similar development is also resulting in greater 
use of wood. The Forest Products Laboratory at Madison, Wis- 
consin, has assisted in the development of laminated glued wooden 
beams of considerable size. These beams are built up of many 
small pieces. Cheaper material may thus be used. Defects affect- 
ing strength, such as large knots, may be cut out. The beams 
• may be shaped as arches or other forms to give the greatest util- 
ity from the least wood. It is possible to combine columns or 
posts into one piece with the roof beam or arch to form a very 
economical and quickly erected building. 
Plywood also is in great demand. Its use for concrete forms 
not only requires less material to start with but the forms can 
be reused more readily, as the concreting progresses. 
The practices so far mentioned tend to increase the use of 
wood in the war effort although some of them reduce the amount 
necessary, assuming that the structure would have been built of 
wood anyway. 
F 
At the St. Louis World's Fair in 1904 the Government ex- 
hibited a timber treatment plant in operation. This demonstra- 
tion was under the direction of Dr. Hermann von Schrenk, who 
at that time was connected with the U. S. Forestry Service. This 
demonstration occurred at a time when timber treatment was 
almost unknown in this country. Very few engineers or archi- 
tects of that time even knew^ of the cause of decay in timber or 
of the means of prevention. The exhibit had an important part 
in creating a treated timber consciousness in this country. 
Among the largest users of forest products have been our 
railroads. They were among the first to use treated timber. Prior 
to the now almost universal use of treated cross ties, something 
approaching 200,000,000 were used every year to replace those 
which had decayed. This demand constituted a very serious 
ram on our forests. Far sighted railroad managers foresaw not 
only the danger to our forests but also an actual tie famine. 
Steps intended to remedy the situation included the planting 
o trees along the railroad rights-of-way, the development of cross 
•es of something other than wood, and the preservative treat- 
nient of wood. Nothing came of the tree planting, probably be- 
•^ause expert forestry advice was not obtained. Also, the substi- 
