97 
promises to s;i ve s I or s { in the future ; yet, now that closo compel if ion requires overy 
possible economy to be availed of, that railroads must more largely depend upon sav- 
ing monej in their maintenance, iii order bo continue or to resume their dividends, 
and that companies in good standing can obtain now capital for expense-saving ap* 
pliances at 1 1 oi 5 percent* a year, the time has probably arrived, in view of advancing 
prices and scarcity of timber, w hen some leading railroads will take steps to pre* 
serve it. 
"Privy Councillor Funk estimates that in 1878, out of sixty millions of sleepers on 
the German railroads, twenty-live millions were impregnated, and that even with the 
extraordinary length of life stated for unprepared ties (13. (5 years for Oak and (3.1 for 
Fir and Pine), had the remaining thirty-five millions of ties been impregnated there 
would have been a resulting economy of about $1,000,000 a year, or some 33 per cent, 
on the cost of renewals. 
" This estimate is understood as having resulted in a material extension of tie-pre- 
serving in Germany, notwithstanding the fact that metallic ties have already been 
largely introduced in that country. 
"As regards the latter, a simple calculation shows that the time has not yet arrived 
When they can profitably be introduced in this country. They will cost, laid in tho 
track, about $2.50 each, and were they to last forever (the estimated life in Germany 
is twenty to forty years) the interest on tho cost, at 5 per cent., would be 12£ cents a 
year a tie, or more than tho annual charge of an unprepared White Oak tic, costing 77 
cents in the track, and lasting seven years. 
21753 FOR 7 
