26 BULLETIN" 683_, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



CAR CONSTRUCTION. 



More than a million feet of elm annually has been reported as used 

 for the interior parts of railway cars and locomotives. This is ap- 

 proximately one-tenth of all wood reported for this industry. Its 

 use for this purpose is no doubt due to its strength and its shock- 

 resisting properties, combined with its ability to take different finishes 

 in imitation of oak and birch. The average price paid is $28.63 per 

 thousand f. o. b. factory. 



MISCELLANE0US USES. 



Elm is used in quantities of less than a million board feet annually 

 in a large number of industries. 



It was formerly a very important wood in shipbuilding on account 

 of its shock-resisting qualities, strength, and cleaning properties. It 

 is stiU in demand by barge builders and makers of small boats, but 

 comparatively small amounts are now used by shipbuilders. The 

 principal uses reported are for the bottom boards of canoes and the 

 ribs of rowboats and motor boats. 



Elm serves well for wooden parts of electrical machinery and ap- 

 paratus, Tt is used in playground equipment, such as croquet sets, 

 hammocks, and lawn swings. It is a satisfactory wood for saddle- 

 trees, harness, neck yokes, and stirrups. 



Other kinds of products into which comparatively small amounts 

 of elm are made are pulleys and conveyors, signs and supplies, 

 brushes, dowels (principally for furniture), gates, and fencing. 



ROUGH BUILDING CONSTRUCTION. 



Elm is often used for bridge planking and for bridge and trestle 

 timbers. Rock ehn is preferred for bridge planking and is usually 

 used 2 inches thick. Such planking sells for about $20 a thousand 

 board feet. Thicker material, of course, costs more. Elm is some- 

 times made into lath, for which its strength makes it suitable. The 

 total amount of elm used for these purposes is comparatively small. 



CROSSTIES. 



On account of its strength, hardness, and ability to withstand shock 

 well, elm is a desirable wood for railway crossties. Since it does not 

 resist decay in moist situations as weU as many other woods, it 

 should be treated with preservatives for use in ties. In 1914, 43,330 

 ehn ties were reported treated with preservatives, which was one- 

 tenth of 1 per cent of all ties reported treated for that year. Nearly 

 2,000 were treated with creosote and the rest (over 41,000) with zinc 

 chloride. In 1915, 50,846 elm ties were reported treated, which was 

 about one-seventh of 1 per cent of aU treated ties reported for that 

 year. All were treated with zinc chloride. 



