21 
Part II.] Pearson: Antiseptic Treatment of Timber. 
In the first case the amount absorbed was 1*44 gallons per cubic foot, 
or taking a gallon of Creosote as 10 lbs., 14*4 lbs. per cubic foot and in 
the second case the absorption came to 9*5 lbs. per cubic foot. The 
present price of Creosote in Calcutta is 7 annas per gallon, so that based 
on the above calculations, but taking the current price of Creosote, the 
cost would be 312-4-3 or R1-10-1J per B. G. sleeper of Chir pine. 
In the case of impregnation with 3 lbs. per cubic foot the cost of treat¬ 
ment is quite reasonable j on the other hand, the quantity absorbed is 
small, and possibly insufficient to protect the timber. In the case of 6 
lbs. being taken up per cubic foot the price works out to RO-15-4 for 
a B. G. sleeper, a somewhat high figure, while when the absorption is 10 
lbs. per cubic foot, a by no means excessive amount, the price of treat¬ 
ment amounts to Rl-8-7, a prohibitive figure. 
Past Records of Creosoted Sleepers used in Europe and India. 
Many records are available as to the durability of Creosoted sleepers 
in Europe. In the “ Revtie Generale des Chemins de Fer ” of the East¬ 
ern Railway Company of France, it is stated that Creosoted oak sleepers 
last 15 years, and during that period 15 per cent, of them had to be 
replaced. In another report from Germany, quoted by Dr. Warth, 
of 67,678 oak sleepers treated with Creosote, 0’78 per cent, had to be 
removed after 10 years and 8'60 per cent, after 13 years, while from 
reports of the behaviour of untreated oak on eight different German 
lines, it is stated that from 6*71 per cent, to 80 per cent, had to be 
removed within 10 years. 
Turning now to the results on Indian Railways, the latest report on 
the subject is from the Secretary of the Railway Board to the Inspector 
General of Forests, dated 28th February 1910, in which he writes as 
follows:— 
u Creosote pine imported from England continues to be used for 
some years by the Railways having access to the Western 
ports of India. Thus on the North Western Railway 
some creosoted pine sleepers were laid on the Kotri-Rohri 
section in 1897. These sleepers were imported Baltic pine. 
It is believed that all sleepers have, since 1897, been re¬ 
placed by sleepers of other varieties.'” 
“ A large number of Creosoted pine sleepers were also laid on 
the Southern Punjab Railway previous to the year 1094 
and were estimated to last from 7 to 12 years.” 
( 94 ) 
