Artificial Preservation of Timber 



By Harry V. Radford, M.Sc, C.E. 



W 



00D has at all times been the 

 most important and the most 

 extensively used constructive 

 material employed by man. In build- 

 ings and in engineering works of every 

 description it is especially indispens- 

 able, and it is not probable that it 

 will ever be superseded by any other 

 substance. Such materials as stone, 

 wrought iron, cast iron, tin, copper, 

 zinc, lead, cement, mortar, concrete, 

 brick, tiling, terra-cotta and artificial 

 stone have but fractional employment 

 in comparison with wood; and even 

 the increased use of steel in recent 

 years has not lessened proportionally 

 the amount of wood consumed. In 

 fact, it is notable that, foi every decade since i860, the per capita con- 

 sumption of wood and timber in this country has increased from 20 to 25 

 per cent., and there is no reason to believe that the amount used will be 

 lessened in the future. 



As might be supposed, wood is possessed of many qualities which 

 contribute to its popularity and utility in construction: it is light, strong, 

 durable, relatively abundant, cheap, adaptable, easily transported, easily 

 worked, and frequently beautiful. 



Unfortunately for the welfare of the country, the timber supply has 

 been drawn upon so heavily during the last thirty years, and with so little 



* Prepared for and published with consent of Manhattan College. 



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