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Nor is there any "cure-all" process by which any wood for any and 
every purpose can be preserved. Piles, which are cut to pieces by the 
Teredo within two years, require different treatment from ties to be 
placed in an ordinary road-bed, as the method of handling and trans- 
porting perishable freight must differ from that of ordinary freight, ne- 
cessitating more care and expense, Any system to be adapted to a 
variety of work and to give promise of economical results must have 
the harmonious cooperation of all concerned in its operations and 
faithful attention to details. Each one in any way connected with the 
work should have a general understanding of it, and a precise knowl- 
edge of his own particular duties and the limits to be observed. If this 
is not the case the purchasing agent may contract for timber quite un- 
suited to the purpose for which it is procured ; the superinteudent may 
overlook the importance of ample facilities of operation ; the engineer 
may not comprehend the degree of treatment required, and the in- 
spector and workmen may become careless and so ruin the work. 
The need of intelligent co-operation is here emphasized because it 
has been neglected frequently and caused processes in themselves good 
to be attended with unsatisfactory results. 
If a businessman — the president, perhaps, of some company — thinks 
the subject of wood-preservation may have in it some benefit for him, 
or those whom he represents, his main inquiries are, What does it 
amount to ? Will it pay ? Will it make a conspicuous item of econ- 
omy ? How will it affect our policy and dealings with others 1 Is it 
practicable in our case ? 
The manager asks somewhat the same questions, but inquires fur- 
ther. What are the conditions and necessities in our case? What is 
the best process and its cost ? What are the conditions for success ? 
What facilities have we? What rules shall be laid down ? 
The engineer or foreman in charge wishes to know what precisely is 
the composition of each ingredient, what is the order and time of each 
step in the process, what are the requisites and facilities, and what 
standard must be exacted in order to insure success. 
Thus it becomes plain how the physical and commercial divisions of 
the subject interlace and require to be in accord. In order to select a 
process and lay down rules for the guidance of all connected with it, it 
is necessary to decide what purpose and exposure the wood is to be 
subject to, then to ascertain accurately all the conditions which prevail 
in the special case, and to determine the length of life that should be 
secured. Questions like the following will come up naturally and al- 
most necessarily for answer : What is the name, quality, and cost of the 
wood to be used; its use and exposure; nature of soil and water; av- 
erage length of life; sources of injury, such as Teredo, notching and 
framing, cutting by the rail, etc. ; destroyed by what? Cost of renew- 
als. Available woods for treatment. Cost of the same. Probable 
quality and condition. Receiving point. Distributing point. Location 
