116 
Indian Forest Records. 
[Vol. VF 
( in ) Cost of the Antiseptic, handling charges and plant. 
Throughout this enquiry it will be seen that every endeavour has 
been made to ascertain ways and means of reducing the cost of treatment, 
because Coal-tar creosote , not being at present produced in this country, 
has to be imported and is therefore expensive. When the enquiry was., 
commenced, the line taken was to reduce the amount of oil employed; 
and, though the sleepers treated with small quantities of Avenarius 
Carbohneum oil are so far doing well, the solution to the problem probably 
does not lie in that direction. The other methods which are being 
tried are either to use a large quantity of a cheap salt of recognized value 
and to protect it with a coating of Coal-tar creosote oil, or to use a mixture 
of Coal-tar creosote and Petroleum oil. 
A point which, has so far not been touched on is the possibility of 
producing a good, though relatively cheap, Coal-tar creosote from Indian 
coal. Were it possible to do so, India would at once be put on an equal 
footing with Europe and America as regards the treatment of timber.. 
There can be no doubt that were cheap creosote available, not only 
would the Railways benefit greatly by being able to procure serviceable 
sleepers in large quantities, but that the Forest Department would be 
in a position to utilize many of its so called “ inferior timbers,” while a 
new industry would spring up by the manufacture of Coal-tar creosotes.. 
An enterprising Calcutta firm has the business of producing Coal-tar 
creosote under consideration : they have already produced a fair grade of 
creosote, on which they are now working to bring it up to specification. 
Considering the question from a general standpoint, there should be no 
difficulty in profitably producing Coal-tar creosote oils in India, in view 
of the fact that at least three, if not four, large concerns are producing 
tar in coke ovens. Up to date Coal-tar has realized high prices in India, 
out, as the tar market is likely to be flooded on the expansion of the 
industry, the natural outlet for the surplus'tar would be the manufacture 
of Coal-tar creosote. 
It is of interest to examine the actual figures arrived at by treating 
experimental sleepers, as described in the previous chapters. While 
doing so, it must be remembered that owing to the temporary nature of 
the work, the labour charges were excessive, while unnecessary expendi¬ 
ture was incurred owing to mistakes or unforeseen difficulties. Never- 
theless, an examination of the figures arrived at are instructive as de¬ 
noting a maximum figure of cost, and therefore, in the event of the cost 
price falling within working limits, clearly indicating the commercial, 
possibility of such an undertaking. 
[ 246 ] 
