274 



FOREST PRODUCTS 



1. It is a self- tamping tie. It embeds itself easily and firmly on 

 the road bed and will not "crawl." 



2. It gives an even 12-in. surface to the rail with its attendant 

 advantages. 



3. The ties are replaced more readily and, therefore, more cheaply. 



4. More ties and lumber can be cut out of the various-sized trees 

 than other accepted forms. 



The following are the disadvantages of the triangular form: 



1. It gives a less satisfactory bearing surface on the ballast. 



2. The ties are likely to check and split off on the edges. 



3. The spike must be driven in the exact center. 



Fig. 71. — Triangular tie used by 

 the Great Northern Railway. 



Fig. 72. — Method of sawing triangular ties 

 from tie logs. 



These ties cost the Great Northern about 56 cents apiece. There are 

 25 ties per thousand board feet and they were sold on the basis of $14.00 

 per thousand board feet for Douglas fir and Western larch ties in 191 7. 



The following specifications are those issued by the United States 

 Railroad Administration under date of June 11, 1918: 



UNITED STATES RAILROAD ADMINISTRAION 



SPECIFICATIONS FOR CROSS TIES 



Kinds of Wood. 



Before manufacturing ties, producers should ascertain from the railroad to which 

 they contemplate delivering them just which of the following kinds of wood suitable 

 for cross ties will be accepted: Ash, beech, birch, catalpa, cedar, cherry, chestnut, 

 cypress, elm, fir, gum, hackberry, hemlock, hickory, larch, locust, maple, mulberry, 

 oak, pine, redwood, sassafras, spruce, sycamore, and walnut. Others will not be 

 accepted unless specially ordered. 



Quality. 



All ties shall be free from any defects that may impair their strength or durability 

 as cross lies, such as decay, splits, shakes, or large or numerous holes or knots. 



