410 HEARINGS BEFORE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE. 
tion of the proposed reserve. His report will soon go to the Secretary 
of the Interior. 
Mr. Henry. There is a large forest there? 
Mr. Pricr. Yes, sir; and forests of high local value. 
Mr. Grarr. Why could not this system of preserving woods be 
extended to building materials? 
Mr. Prics. It could in a great many cases. 
Mr. Grarr. That is especially to that portion of the wood of a 
building that is exposed? : 
Mr. Bian. That is exposed to the weather? : 
Mr. Grarr. That is exposed to the weather. 
Mr. Pricer. Yes, sir. 
Mr. Bowrz. What is the treatment that is given these woods? Unless 
it isa secret, or something of that kind, we would like to have that 
information. 
Mr. Price. No, sir; itis not. Sometimes it is done through impreg- 
nation under pressure, and sometimes by boiling in a vat for a certain 
time. 
Mr. Bowie. What is the material that they boil it in and impregnate 
it with? That is what I want to get at. 
Mr. Pricz. There are several chemical solutions; sulphate of copper 
and zine chloride are the most common. 
Mr. Bowre. Does the tie have to be submerged in it? 
Mr. Price. Yes, sir. 
Mr. Bowrs. How long does it have to stay there? 
Mr. Price. Of course it depends upon the heat to which it is sub- 
jected; probably ten to twenty minutes. 
Mr. Bowig. You pitch it in? 
Mr. Price. Yes, sir; it is passed into the impregnating tank and out 
again. 
Mr. Bowrz. What does it cost to establish a system for that work, 
a plant of that sort, at some place where the railroads have headquar- 
ters for ties? 
Mr. Price. Of course that would depend on the number of ties to 
be treated, but a good plant would cost about $15,000. 
Mr. Bowrg. It would probably cost that much? 
Mr. Price. Yes; probably that much to put in a plant which would 
be worth while. 
Mr. Bowig. And the treating can be done at an expense of 15 or 20 
cents a tie. 
Mr. Price. Fifteen or 20 cents a tie, approximately. 
Mr. Bowrs. It would seem as though they would adopt that pretty 
quickly if they were convinced of it? 
Mr. Price. Yes, sir; they will. 
‘Mr. Henry. Take a hard-wood tie, a chestnut tie, that does not 
“cost over 40 or 50 cents; would it pay to treat those ties? 
Mr. Price. Yes; particularly if the timber was naturally short lived. 
Mr. Henry. I[ say chestnut. 
Mr. Price. Yes, sir; I should think it would by all means. It 
would prolong its life two or three times. 
Mr. Henry. Most of the Eastern roads use chestnut timber? 
Mr. Price. Yes, sir; to some extent. 
Mr. Scorr. The first change that I notice in the wording of your 
bill is on page 15, where you insert new words, ‘‘ Including the erec- 
