26 BULLETIN 683, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
CAR CONSTRUCTION. 
More than a million feet of elm annually has been reported as used 
for the interior parts of railway cars and locomotives. This is ap- 
proximately one-tenth of all wood reported for this industry. Its 
use for this purpose is no doubt due to its strength and its shock- 
resisting properties, combined with its ability to take different finishes 
in imitation of oak and birch. The average price paid is $28.63 per 
thousand f. o. b. factory. 
MISCELLANEOUS USES. 
Elm is used in quantities of less than a million board feet- annually 
in a large number of industries. 
It was formerly a very important wood in shipbuilding on account 
of its shock-resisting qualities, strength, and cleaning properties. It 
is still in demand by barge builders and makers of small boats, but 
comparatively small amounts are now used by shipbuilders. The 
principal uses reported are for the bottom boards of canoes and the 
ribs of rowboats and motor boats. 
Elm serves well for wooden parts of electrical machinery and ap- 
paratus. It is used in playground equipment, such as croquet sets, 
hammocks, and lawn swings. It is a satisfactory wood for saddle- 
trees, harness, neck yokes, and stirrups. 
Other kinds of products into which comparatively small amounts 
of elm are made are pulleys and conveyors, signs and supplies, 
brushes, dowels (principally for furniture), gates, and fencing. 
ROUGH BUILDING CONSTRUCTION. 
Elm is often used for bridge planking and for bridge and trestle 
timbers. Rock elm is preferred for bridge planking and is usually 
used 2 inches thick. Such planking sells for about $20 a thousand 
board feet. Thicker material, of course, costs more. Elm is some- 
times made into lath, for which its strength makes it suitable. The 
total amount of elm used for these purposes is comparatively small. 
CROSSTIES. 
On account of its strength, hardness, and ability to withstand shock 
well, elm is a desirable wood for railway crossties. Since it does not 
resist decay in moist situations as well as many other woods, it 
should be treated with preservatives for use in ties. In 1914, 43,330 
elm ties were reported treated with preservatives, which was one- 
tenth of 1 per cent of all ties reported treated for that year. Nearly 
2,000 were treated with creosote and the rest (over 41,000) with zinc 
chloride. In 1915, 50,846 elm ties were reported treated, which was 
about one-seventh of 1 per cent of all treated ties reported for that 
year. All were treated with zinc chloride. 
