Part IV.] R. S. Pearson: Antiseptic Treatment of Timber. 63 
The most noticeable point in the above figures is the marked regul¬ 
arity in absorption, which is attributed to the sleepers being well-seasoned 
and containing little sap-wood. The immersion period of 24 hours is a 
long one, but when the close, hard nature, of the timber is taken into 
consideration, the quantity of oil absorbed is surprisingly high.^ The 
sleepers, after treatment, were handed over to the Great Indian Peninsula 
Railway authorities and laid in the line. 
(Hi) Cost of treating sleepers with Solignum and Liquid Fuel 
OIL, MIXED IN VARYING QUANTITIES. 
When considering the financial aspect resulting from treating sleepers 
with Solignum and Liquid Fuel oil, it must be borne in mind that Solignum , 
though, as before stated, a very high class coal-tar creosote preparation, 
is also very expensive, while Liquid Fuel in comparison, is cheap. 
Results alone can prove whether the use of so costly an oil as Solignum 
is justified. 
(a) Cost of treating 350 Pinus longifolia and 100 P. excelsa broad gauge 
sleepers. 
The mixture in which the sleepers were treated consisted of 40 per 
cent. Solignum and 60 per cent. Liquid Fuel oil. 
Cost of felling, converting and landing 350 broad gauge 
sleepers at Jagadhxi ...... 
Cost of Liquid Fuel oil at 5 annas per gallon, including 
freight to Jagadhri, each sleeper absorbing 9 lbs. of 
oil, of which 3-5th was Liquid Fuel oil, to treat 350 
broad gauge sleepers ...... 
Cost of Solignum at Rs. 3 per gallon, each sleeper absorb - 
ing2-5th of 9 lbs. or 3*6 lbs. ..... 
Cost of coolie labour, fuel and miscellaneous expenses . 
5 per cent, cost of plant ...... 
2 per cent, due to evaporation and leakage of oil . 
Total cost of treating 350 broad gauge Pine sleepers 
Average cost of treating a broad gauge Pine sleeper 
by the India Office. In the above calculations its value is placed at 
Rs. 3-0-0 per gallon, at which price it can be purchased in India. The 
cost of exploiting the sleepers and landing them on rail at Jagadhri came 
to Re. 1-0-0 per sleeper, therefore the cost of treatment came to Re. 1-9-10 
per broad gauge Pine sleeper. Royalty charges are not included in the 
above calculations ; broad gauge Pinus longifolia untreated sleepers 
can be purchased at Jagadhri in large numbers for Rs. 3-0-0, to which 
must be added 4 annas royalty on treatment and Re. 1-9-10 the cost 
[ 193 ] 
Rs. 
A. 
p. 
350 
0 
0 
59 
1 
0 
378 
7 
0 
63 
0 
0 
21 
0 
0 
38 
0 
0 
909 
8 
0 
2 
9 
10 
