3 
Existing Lines declined to recommend the acceptance of sawn instead of split sleepers, 
but with a view to economy in respect of timber, the Commissioners had decided that 
in future as far as possible, tenders should be invited for sleepers and fence posts at the 
same time. 
One cannot blame railway engineers for preferring Ironbark to Grey Gum if 
they can get the former, but for a long time certain North Coast foresters, in view of 
the shortage of Ironbark which was everywhere proclaimed, and of the fact that 
Grey Gum is a really valuable timber, brought the merits of Grey Gum under notice, 
but the time was not opportune. 
Here arc two letters from Foresters who impressed its excellence on me and 
with whom I maintained a correspondence on the subject for years. 
(a) From the late Forest Ranger Augustus Rudder, of Booral, dated 
15th July, 1890. 
" Fortunately we have here an excellent substitute for Ironbark in a tree locally known as 
Grey Gum. 
" This timber is in quantity, and up to 4 and 5 feet in diameter, but it is said the railway 
authorities will not accept ot it for railway purpos3S, for what reason I am at a loss to determine, unless 
it is thdr want of knowledge of iis true character; probably because they have b3en misled by some 
other timber of the same local name. As to the lasting qualities of this Grey Gum in the ground, and 
generally, I have known and used it for over forty years, and will stake my reputation as a Forest Ranger 
on this my testimony to its excellence, nor is it more liable, if so much so, as Ironbark to the ravages of 
the white ant, and is far superior to the Broad-leaved Red Ironbark (E. siderophloia), which is so readily 
accepted for railway purposes. In what I have said of this Grey Gum I will, I am sure, be sustained by 
nine-tenths of the old experienced bushmen, who invariably speak well of it." 
(6) From the late Forest Ranger G. R. Brown, of Port Macquaric, dated 
7th July, 1890. 
" In view of Ironbark timber being so much used for girders and railway sleepers, I have the 
honour to ask that the following suggestion might be tested : ' To use Grey Gum, and Spotted Gum, 
more particularly the former, for railway sleepers, and other purposes where practicable.' My reasons 
are : In my district Grey Gum is almost as plentiful as the Blackbutt, but only an odd log is used by the 
sawmills. It is more easily obtained than the Ironbark, on account of being so plentiful nearer to 
water carriage, distributed all over the district, and being so should tend to lower the contract price, 
being easily obtainable. 
" It is said to be equal to Ironbark generally, except for girders, although it is often cut for 
girders, &c., and passed for Ironbark. 
" Also a Mr. Anderson, a practical man who was under Mr. Moriarty some years ago, was willing 
to accept Grey Gum, for all purposes where the Ironbark was being used, at the time when the Kiama 
and Wollongong Harbour Works were in progress. 
" It seems a pity to see such splendid timber trees eaten by white ants and decaying for want of 
using ; and if cut where practicable it would give the Ironbark an opportunity of again reforesting, where 
scarce, in all districts. 
" To also assist in preserving Ironbark fit for girders, now cut for sleepers, it might be ruled that 
Ironbark, for sleepers of not less than 8 or 9 feet girth, should be used, which would help to save the sizes 
squared for girders, as no other timber is as suitable for that purpose." 
A very few years later I was botanising very much off beaten track? south of 
Taree. In the course of my wanderings I came across a sleeper-getters' camp and 
some stacks of very fine sleepers were about. At that time the Railway Department 
