ECONOMY IN THE USE OF FOREST PRODUCTS. 15 



One of the first circulars directed to railroad managers called attention to the fact that the 

 chestnut oak, the bark of which is peeled for tanning purposes, the logs being formerly left to rot 

 in the woods in many places, is as good for railroad ties as the white oak. There is evidence on 

 file that this information was promptly utilized by various companies who had hitherto rejected 

 this wood from misconception as to its value. 



The first bulletin, issued within less than a year from the writer's assuming direction, pre 

 sented a comprehensive discussion of the relation of railroads to forest supplies, showing the 

 enormous consumption, exposing some mistaken notions which have led to wasteful uses, and 

 describing in detail methods of lengthening the life of railroad ties. This bulletin undoubtedly 

 stimulated the use of preservative processes, which are now much more generally applied by rail- 

 road companies in the construction of their roadbeds and renewal of ties. 



These first relations with railroad managers as intelligent and influential wood consumers 

 were continued by the publication of three later bulletins, in 1889, 1890, and 1894, in which, 

 besides further economies in the use of wood for railroad ties, the question of substituting metal 

 for such ties was fully discussed. 



It may be asserted that there is no other publication in the world which discusses this impor- 

 tant question so exhaustively and with so much technical detail. 



The canvass to ascertain the extent to which metal railroad ties were used revealed the sur- 

 prising fact that, instead of being a mere experiment, over 30,000 miles of metal railroad track was 

 actually in operation in various parts of the world. 



The reports of the managers of these tracks showed beyond question that with the proper 

 pattern the metal tie was not only safer and more efficient and satisfactory in every respect, but 

 also much more economical than the wooden tie, being not only longer lived, but also requiring 

 less labor to keep the track in order. If this showing has not produced a corresponding response 

 in our country toward changing to metal, it is due to the fact that wood can still be had too 

 cheaply, and that our railroad properties are still managed in most cases as speculative properties 

 rather than as permanent investments, hence economy in first cost of construction is more con- 

 sidered than permanency. 



Soon, however, with the increase in price of wood as we emerge from the pioneering stage 

 to one of a more settled policy, the information contained in these bulletins will become invalu- 

 able to railroad managers, as it will save them from unnecessary experimenting. Even now the 

 economies suggested in the use of wood ties are beginning to be practiced more extensively. This 

 subject is deemed to be of such importance that a brief r6sume of its present status, prepared by 

 the original investigator, Mr. E. E. Eussell Tratman, O. E., is subjoined to this report. 



To an even larger extent than in railroad construction wood is used in civil engineering and 

 architecture. Wood to the value of $280,000,000, in round numbers, representing more than one- 

 half of all the log size material used, enters into various structures. 



In the use of wood for these purposes there was found to exist even greater ignorance, and 

 consequently greater waste, than in the use for wood manufactures. Hence, as soon as 

 appropriations could be secured from Congress, a thoroughly comprehensive investigation of our 

 American timbers, their characteristics and properties, their strength and usefulness for various 

 purposes, was instituted. 



It was found that even our knowledge of the properties of wood in general was so deficient 

 that an investigation into the general laws of its behavior, physically and mechanically, became 

 necessary. 



This comprehensive investigation into what has come to be known by the name of timber 

 physics has proved to be the most important original work which the Division has undertaken. 



Bo well does this investigation seem to have been planned, and so important does it appear to 

 be, not only to the wood consumer, but to the forester, that a German reviewer, the well-known 

 author in forestry literature, Dr. Schwappach, himself a recognized authority in forestry matters, 

 and specially engaged in similar investigations, used the following language regarding it, as quoted 

 in the report of the Secretary of Agriculture for 1893, page 32: 



This plan of work is as remarkable for its scope as for its consistent pursuit of an eminently practical result. 

 Although Germany has accomplished a great deal in some directions in this field of investigation, especially as regards 

 the laws of growth and wood structure, we are yet far from having such a comprehensive and indispensable knowl- 



