Creosoted Douglas Fir arrd lts {.Jse in California

By Gardner P. Pond J. H. Baxter & Co., Los Angeles.

Douglas Fir, commonly used in this State for structural purposes, is, according to the U. S. Forest Service Bureau, the strongest soft wood in the world, and the most important of American rvoods. As the largest percentage of it is produced in the States of C)regon and Washington, we in California are ideally situated to economically use it in the construction of our homes, buildings, bridges, wharves and for most everything in which rvood is used.

Realizing the benefits to be derived from the use of this wood, the Southern Pacific Engineers in 1889 were successful in treating under pressure Douglas Fir Piling with coaltar creosote to protect it against the ravages of the marine borers, commonly knorvn as teredo and limnoria. These piles were used in the construction of the Oakland Long Wharf, which was removed about l92O to meet changes in waterfront conditions, although a large quantity of the piling removed were in such condition that they rvere reused in other important work.

Since Douglas Fir was first successfully treated under pressure, millions of lineal feet of Douglas Fir Creosoted Piling have been used in the construction of wharves, bridges, and are giving wonderful service. Millions of board feet of timbers, as well as cross-ties have also been protected against decay and other wood destroying agents, and are now giving efficient and economical service.

The creosoting industry on the Pacific Coast has been alive to the demands made upon it, and has, from time to time, developed improvements in the treating of wood, which methods have, undoubtedly, increased the life in service to be expected, thereby greatly reducing the annual cost of stiuctures in which it is used.

A few years ago it was found in Southern California that certain termites, commonly called White Ants, were making serious headway in shortening the expected life of untreated lumber structures, such as bridges and wharves, as well as telephone and power poles. The creosoting industry on the Pacific Coast in order to further protect and extend the use of Douglas Fir. has refined treating processes in the way of eliminating the public's most important objections to free surface creosote and obnoxious odors without sacrificing thorough preservation. This treatment is known as the 6 lb. or 8 lb. Empty Cell Process, and suitable for all but marine rvork; and makes creosoted Douglas Fir highly desirable for termite protection in the construction of buildings, homes, etc., by using it for sills, under-pinning, sub-floors, and many other places where the wood would come in contact or close to the ground. This method of treatment has also made it possible to use Douglas Fir for telephone and porver poles, and there are now many thousands of them in service in California.

It is essential that all creosoted material coming in contact with salt water have at least 12 lb. Full Cell Treatment.

It is important for the buyer's protection, when ordering creosoted Douglas Fir, to specify the poundage of creosote; whether full cell or empty cell is desired, and also that the creosote used in the treatment of your material is a pure derivative of coal-tar, and conform to the American Wood Preservers' Association Specification for No. 1 Creosote Oil, and the treated material be'properly inspected at the Creosoting Plant by accepted authorities.

It is also quite important that creosoted material by properly handled, and the following suggestions, included in the Standard Specification issued by three of the commercial creosoting companies on the Pacific Coast, is of value:

"In handling creosoted material particular care must be used to not damage edges of lumber or timbers nor to abraid creosoted surfacel to the extent of reducing the depth bf the creosoted wood, nor to expose untreated wood. Sharp pointed tools must not be used in a lvay to puncture the creosoted shell, and the use of same shall be limited to the end of sawed lumber and to the ends and within three (3) feet of the ends of creosoted piling.

In rafting of creosoted piling, the use of dogs will be permitted, if driven within three (3) feet of either end of the pile.

The proper handling of creosoted material during its entire journey thrgugh the retorts and to its final destination in the structure is of supreme importance and justifies the most careful supervision of all handling operations.

We recommend for your careful consideration and enforcement the following thoughts and suggestions:

CREOSOTED TIMBER is entitled to the same respect and care as steel, concrete or vitreous construction materials.

It is property, the value of which can be greatly reduced or totally destroyed by improper handling.

Creosote does not penetrate the entire volume of the stick, but if no puncture or cut is made which will expose un- treated wood, the stick is permanently protected tack of decay, fungi, marine l:orers, white ant or against atother wood destroying agent. brace structures with creosoted piles driven Sawed braces, bolted on, in time become loose leaving an opening for attack; or are knocked Wendlin cutoffs rvith trvo or three coats

ALWAYS, if possible, frame timbers before creosoting. If cuts exposing white wood are unavoidable, ALWAYS give exposed surface two brush coats of hot creosote.

Framing must be accomplished somewhere prior to the material reaching its place in the structure. If purchaser is so located as to be unable to frame, before material goes to the plant for treatment, the creosoting company in most cases can undertake this framing at little if any greater cost than had the framing been done by the purchaser.

Do not chop, drive dogs, peavies or other sharp tools into creosoted timbers. If holes ire unavoidably made, fill same with thoroughly creosoted, tight-fitting wooden plugs. This is particularly important with timbers used in sea water.

Protect creosoted material from chafing.

Bore all holes for bolts sufficiently small to give a driving fit.

If possible, on a batter. on the bolts, off by drift.

IJse creosoted fender piles. llntreated piles and thd stumps of replaced piies serve as a breeding ground for marine borers.

Creosoted piles stan<l driving as rvell as untreated piles, but their additional value justifies greater precaution against damage.

IJse a follower or other means for avoiding injurious brooming or slivering of pile head. Do not pound a creosoted pile longer than necessary.

Avoid brooming, breaking or splitting of portion of pile below cutoff.

Carefully paint of hot creosote."

It should be remembered rvhen handling creosoted material that when considering only its initial cost, it is an expensive material as compared with untreated lumber and piling; and it is very important that the creosoted shell is not punctured with sharp tools. If so, the untreated wood exposed should be thoroughly bathed with two or three coats of hot creosote.

Those in the creosoting industry take great care in handling the material at the plants, aboard their coastwise vessels, and when making deliveries. If no damage is done to the material by the time it is installed, it has been definitely proven that the use of Douglas Fir Creosoted Piling and Lumber is the cheapest and most efficient construction material yet found for certain uses. Public and private owners of wharves have, from experience, learned that the use of creosoted caps, stringers, joists and decking will materially reduce the annular cost of their structures; and at the present time there are wharves on the Pacific Coast wherein creosoted .caps, stringers, etc., are replacing untreated timbers that were originally installed.

Creosoted material has proven ideal material in adopting itself to the evolution of water-front development. Changes in the type and size of ships, the necessity reaching into greater depths of rvater, methods of handling cargo, etc., have been rapid and continuous. The cost of reconstructing wharves to meet these changes in rvhich creosoted material was used, has been surprisingly low as compared rvith the cost of reconstructing other structures in which concrete or other so-called permanent material rvas used.

The merits of Creosoted Douglas Fir have been proven by actual experience records, and its rlse can be adopted without any hesitancy by those desiring permanence, strength and low annular depreciation or upkeep costs.

AXEL H. OXHOLM IN SAN FRANCISCO

Axel H. Oxholm, digector of the National Committee on Wood Utilization, Washington. visited San Francisco June 12 and 18. He addressecl members of the Builders'-Exchange and the public on "The Program of the National Committee on Wood lltilization-Its Accomplishments and Aims."