Paet I.] Pearson : 'Antiseptic treatment of Sleepers. 3 
were of other than standard species, namely teak, deodar, sal and 
Pyinkado. This position of affairs clearly points to the fact that the 
supply of standard sleepers is insufficient to meet the demand and if 
further proof is necessary it can be seen in the prices of sleepers at the 
present time, an idea of which can be gathered by glancing at the 
graphic curves of sleeper prices shown in Appendix VIII. Another 
point which has to be taken into consideration is that the number of 
sleepers purchased annually during the last decade in no way represents 
the actual requirements of Indian Railways, as the war was in progress 
dining that period. It is estimated that the present urgent require- 
ments of all railways together is approximately three times the 
purchases made since 1911. To overcome the shortage and so as to 
increase the number of available sleepers, the Chief Engineers at their 
recent meeting proposed treating Indian hardwoods, and this is without 
doubt the solution to the problem. 
3. Price of sleepers. 
Attached to this note are graphic curves (Appendix VIII), showing 
the prices of sleepers since 1907, with the corresponding price of con- 
structional timber at the present time. A study of this diagram will 
explain the reason for stating above that timber merchants find it more 
profitable to convert timber into scantlings and rafters than into sleeper 
sizes. The position of ‘ Pyinkado ’ in Burma is most marked in this 
respect. 
(i) ‘ Deodar,’ Cedrus Deodara. 
First class ‘ Deodar ’ Broad Gauge sleepers are now selling at from 
Rs. 8-4-0 to Rs. 9-8-0 at Jagadhri, Hardwar and Lahore, whereas in 
September 1907 they were selling at Rs. 3-2-0. 
{ii) ‘ Chir,’ Finns longifolia. 
In December 1916, ‘ Chir ’ Broad Gauge sleepers were fetching from 
Rs. 2-4-0 to Rs. 2-6-0, whereas they are now realising from Rs. 3-10-0 to 
Rs. 4-0-0 at Jagadhri and Hardwar. 
(m) ‘ Kail,’ Finns excelsa. 
Broad Gauge ‘ Kail ’ sleepers are selling at Rs. 5-0-0 to Rs. 5-8-0 at 
Jagadhri and those from the Bashahr Division have recently been sold at 
Rs. 7-0-0. 
[ 3 ] 
