CHAPTER XIV 

 POSTS 



There are no government statistics available showing the annual 

 production of fence posts in this country, but it is estimated that there 

 are 500, 000, 000 posts consumed annually. They are used chiefly 

 on farms and by the railroads along rights of way, which are always 

 inclosed by fencing. 



The posts used on farms are largely cut in local woodlots, generally on 

 the farm woodlots, whereas those used by the railroads are generally 

 produced in regions of an abundant supply of durable timber. In Cal- 

 ifornia and the Southwestern States, redwood {Sequoia sempervirens) is 

 the particular species sued for posts. In the Northwestern States and 

 on the western plains the principal wood used is western red cedar 

 {Thuja plicata). In the Central West and in the Lake States, the par- 

 ticular species used for fence posts is northern white cedar {Thuja occi- 

 dentalis) from Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Michigan and locally pro- 

 duced locust, white oak, catalpa, mulberry, hackberry, etc. In the 

 Northeasl common woods used for fence posts are northern white cedar 

 and chestnut; in the East^ chestnut, sassafras, catalpa, and white oak are 

 the principal fence post woods and, in the South and Southeastern States 

 cypress, southern white cedar {Chamaecy parts thyoides), juniper, or eastern 

 cedar {Juniperus virginiana) , and longleaf pine are used. 



Posts are generally cut in 7-ft. lengths, although they may be cut for 

 special purposes up to 20 ft. in length. Sometimes they are cut in 

 multiples of 7 ft. or thereabouts and then cut into the desired lengths at 

 destination. This is generally for convenience and economy in handling. 

 Fence posts are generally used in the round, in which case they are usually 

 from 4 to 6 m. in diameter at the top end. Most of the western red 

 cedar, redwood posts, and frequently those of chestnut, northern white 

 cedar, cypress and longleaf pine are split posts. Rail fences are rapidly 

 disappearing from use, especially in regions where the native timber 

 supplies and good split timber are being depleted. Consequently fence 

 posts to be used with rails are seldom used any more. The old zigzag 



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