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POSSIBILITIES OF WOOD PRESERVATION

IN THE BITUMINOUS MINES OF ILLINOIS,

 

Thesis for Degree of M. of For,

Edmund Carl Mandenberg
1921

 
THESIS
"Enormous quantities of valuable timbers are
being placed in the coal and metal mines of this country
without any preservative treatment against decay, That
the life of these timbers might be greatly lengthened by
the injection of certain chemicals has been proved by the
U. 8S, Forest Products Laboratory in numerous service lists.
In 1910 the laboratory installed in an Alabama mine un-
treated and timbers which had been treated with coal tar
creosote, Ten years later all the untreated timbers had
been removed because of decay, while 80 per cent of the
creosoted timbers were still sound and none had decayed
to a point where removal was necessary, This is only one
of the many records obtained by the laboratory which
‘should induce every mining company to install some sort
of a wood treating plant"**

The purpose of the following study is an at-
tempt to show briefly the possibilities and savings which
are possible through the pragtice of wood preservation
in the mines of lower Illinois,

The study is based on the personal investiga-
tion of the writer in 18 mines located in the vicinity
of Marion, Illinois, The field work was carried on dur-
ing the months of April and May of 1920, Naturally,
many points in the Illinois field were not visited, but
the Marion field was well covered and this field is re-
presentative of the coal producing areas of Tllinois,

**Rorest Products Technical Notes #110,
1072260
In the bulletins and papers so far published,
the surface has only been scratched, There is not a
panic in timber but the actual condition of our standing
timber supply has become so alarming that it is time
something is undertaken to awaken public interest in this
important matter, It is a fact thit we are destroying
our forest supplies more rapidly than they are being re-
produced,

In 1905, four hundred mines*® in Illinois used
10,342,000 cubic feet of round timber and 7,025,000
board feet of sawed timbers, In that year eight mining
states spent over $500,000 each for mine timbers, three
of these spent over one million dollars each and Illinois
ranked fourth with a total expenditure for mine timbers
of $778,186,

The condition of the timbers going into the
mines varies from green, fresh from the axe, to thorough-
ly seasoned timber which has been cut several years,
Where the timbers going into the mines are sound, and
are placed where water trickles over them, there is ap-
parently no difference in the life of a seasoned timber
or a@ green one; but ina dry or damp entry, the seasoned
timber is preferable because of its greater strength and
partly on account of less cost in handling and setting
in place; and because it is not so quickly attacked by
dry rot. The writer has seen green timber in place in

*“Porest Service Circular No, 49, "Timber Used in Mines
of United States in 1905", R. 5S. Kellogg.
damp situations attacked by fungus in two weeks time,
Various agencies destroy mine timbers and the
following percentages show the relative importance as
observed in the mines visited:
5% Wear
15% Breakage and Fire
20% Waste from all causes
60% Decay and Insect Attack
The position of the timber in the mine relative
to air currents and the purity of the air itself, has a
great deal to do with the period of service it gives,
Mines in this section are usually equipred with
a "main haul" shaft and a "ventilating shaft", The air
goes down the first named or "down-cast"; the fresh air
enters the mine through this opening, ‘Zhe second is the
"up-cast” and the foul air leaves the mine bottom through
this shaft, Timbers in the "down-cast" and on the "mine
bottom" adjacent, give a longer period of service than
the timbers in the "up-cast" or those timbers in the
workings on the "mine bottom” adjacent to the "up-cast”"
shaft, Warm moist air in a mine will rot timbers more
quickly than dry and comparatively cool air.
The indirect advantages, due to the practice
of preservation of mine timbers, are numerous and carry
considerable weight. Local timbers, grown on properties
or furnished by farmers in the immediate vicinity of the
mine operations can be utilized with economy, Also, a

very considerable saving in freight is possible because
usually the more durable timbers used are shipped greater
distances, Timbers can be peeled in the woods at the

time of outting and considerable saving in freight effected
because of the added weizcht of the bark which is approxi-
mately 10 per cent of the green weight, The pecling of
timber at the mines has been unsatisfactory as a rule,

and is generally not practiced because of the expense and
because space in the timber storage areas is limited.
However, if the timber is to be treated, it must be peeled
thoroughly, and this can best be accomplished in the woods
when the material is cut and where the labor cost is
cheaper, It prevents the attacks of the insects which work
directly under the bark and which, to some extent, natural-
ly, weaken the timbers,

The practice of timber preservation also cuts
down the delays in coal production and "shut downs" caused
by the failure of timbers due to premature and vreventable
decay, In the main entries, which are heavily timbered,
preservation makes possible great savings because the
treated timbers retard decay and prevent excessive falling
of the rocks from the roof of these entries, It also les-
sens the "cave ins” which result from collapse and weaken-~
ing of decayed timbers, Outside appearances are deceiving.
Timber may seem sound but when closer inspection is made
they are found to be in an advanced stage of decay. Such
"gave ins" frequently cause mines to cease operations for
several days because of the great quantity of rock which
comes down, haulage through these entires is stopped be-
cause all mine cars must be used to.move fallen rock to
the surface of the ground before the production of coal
can start,

It further prevents derailments of coal trains
caused usually when spikes lose hold in decayed ties,

When such accidents occur, mine operations are suspended
until the wreckage has been cleared away.

These factors are costly enough but occasionally
lives sare lost and preventable decay is the primary cause ,

Most Illinois mines wish to use white oak wherev-
er possible, The local supply is practically exhausted
and the practice of wood preservation makes it possible
to use the locally grown perishable timbers which, when
creosoted, give better service than the more durable tim-
bers formerly did, These had to be shipped to the mines
from distant sources of supply. This is a material sav-
ing in excessive freight charges which have been advanced
just recently upwards to 40%,

The use of ereosoted timbers results, also, ina
material saving in the annual cost of maintenance of the
mine workings, a reduction in the amount of timber requir-
ed yearly because of prolonged period of service and makes
possible the utilization of inferior species of wood,
which is so essential and further aids the big conserva-
tion movement which is of vital interest to the country
at large and to all users of timber products, especially
the mine operators,

A number of the mining companies of Illinois
 

 

 

 
have experimented and are convinced that timber preserva-
tion is practical and economical, but in order to practice
wood preservation on a larger scale certain changes in the
present methods in vogue are necessary, First, timber can-
not be rushed directly from the woods to the mines; there
must be time for seasoning it and for treating it. This
necessitates the storing of a large supply of peeled tin-
ber at one or more points, Second, the timber should be
peeled in the woods immediately upon being felled, and
allowed to partially season while waiting on the cars for
shipment to the mines, This saves the producers freight
charges on the bark and a portion of the water present

in green wood, Bark retards the seasoning of timbers,

"In a peeling and seasoning test the total loss of green
weight by peeling was 8.1 per cent and the total loss

of green weight by seasoning was 35,1 per cent in a per-
iod of 112 days"* and "the total loss of green weight by
seasoning red oak for 50 days was 17 per cent in a tie

5" x 5" x 594", "** Tt also decreases the durability be-
cause it makes excellent breeding places available for
wood destroying insects, The bark also flakes off the
mine bottom timbers soon after they are set, causing an
acoumlation of rubbish in the workings which is readily
*Forest Service Ciroular #111, "Prolonging Life of Mine
Timbers",

**Porest Service Bulletin #107, "The Preservation of Mine
Timbers”,
inflammable and which causes additional expenditures

of money to remove it to the surface, Third, a careful
and thorough inspection should be made of all timbers
and those showing evidence of fungus growth should be
discarded as it would be poor economy to apply preser-
vative to these infected materials.

The following tabulations serve to give an
idea of the species of timber used for various con-
struction in mining operations:

Main Haul Ties

quercus rubra
Cuercus coccinea
Quercus velutina
Fagus americana
Hicsorea ovata
Betula papyrifera
Ulmus americana
Fraxinus americana
Platinus oecidentalis
Acer saccharum
Acer saccharfnum
Entry Timbers
Quercus alba
quercus rubra
Quercus celutina

Hicoria ovata
Laggings
Quercus alba
Pinus palustris
Pinus echinata
Pinus taeda
Tipples
Pinus palustris
Pseudotsuga taxifolia

All the above timbers are readily impregnated
by the non-pressure process and are recommended for treat-
ment, Room ties, props, caps, and car timbers are not in-
cluded because of their short mechanical life or because
these materials are seldom reclaimed in operations,

Mine timbers are bought on specification and the
common sizes for various classes are as below:

Main haul ties, Hewed two or four sides, sizes
5" x 6" x 6'; 6" x 6" x 5.5%; and 6" x 8" x §,5',

Legs and crossbars, All timbers are round with
top in inches one half of the length in feet, In sizes,
5" diameter, 10' long; 6" diameter, 12' long; 7" diameter,
14" long; 8" diameter, 16" long; and 9" diameter, 18" long.

Laggings, cribbings, buntings, and shaft casings.
In dimenbion 3" x 12"; 47 x 12";3; 5" x 12"; and 6" x 8",

Tipple timbers all dimension stock for braces,
caps, legs, sheave timbers, etc,

The type of treating plant suggested is the non-
pressure process, Open Tank system, This simple, inex-

pensive plant is easy to operate, and gives satisfactory
a4

OM
impregnation to all common mine timbers, The cost of
treating timbers by the pressure process is greater
than the cost of application by the non-pressure process,
The saving secured by the open tank process is due to
elimination of all expensive machinery necessary in pres-
Sure processes, permits of much lighter construction of
treating tanks because no great strains are put on the
sides of the tanks, smaller amount of labor is necessary
to operate the plant and the cost of construction and
maintenance of the open tank plant is mch less than
that of the pressure plant,

The theory of the Open Tank process is that
the heat of the preservative expands the air and mois-
ture in the cells of the wood and in the intercellular
spaces and when the wood is submerged in the cold bath
there is a contraction whioh takes place, creating a
vacuum and the preservative is forced into the wood by
atmospheric pressure,

An all around plant which will take care of
all mine requirements is shown in the blue print, Spec-
ial attention is necessary in locating the plant with
reference to the storage yard, since the efficient hand-
“Ling of the timber before and after treatment cuts the
operating costs materially.

An ideal simple plant for Illinois mines is
one with tanks 36 inches wide, 40 inches deep and 21
feet long. This will handle from 36 to 60 ties per
 
charge, depending upon the size, <0 to 32 pieces of crib-
bing, depending upon the thickness and 6 to 50 legs or
cross bars, varying in size and length, All material is
handled in racks and the tanks will accommodate one to
three racks in every charge,

The following is a list of the main items of
equipment necessary:-

Two wood shell,metal lined tanks equipped with
1-1/2" pipe coils on the bottom, with rests for racks and
overflows,

One drain board covered with metal

Nine to twleve 2" angle iron frames as racks

One chain block hoist or derrick

One 10,000 gallon storage tank

Six levers to submerge timbers

All timbers should be thoroughly seasoned before
treatment and where framing of timbers is necessary at-
tempts shovld be made to standardize sets so that the tim-
bers oan be framed above the ground,

All timbers shonld be seasoned to an air dry
condition before treatment is attempted,

The main objects of seasoning are to increase
the durability of the wood, to prevent excessive checking,
to inorease its strength and stiffness, to facillitate
treating operations and to decrease its weight,

The rate of drying varies with the time of the
year, size and form of piece, species and method of pil-

ing,
Records show that certain species of ties lost
1O pounds in twenty-four hours, Mine timbers should be
seasoned in open piles, The top layer of ties in each
pile should be placed close together and serve as a roof
to shed rain water,

When treating, tne timbers are piled in racks
separated by thin strips of wood or iron to permit the
O11 to readily come in contact with all surfaces,

The time of treatment required in the two baths
varies with the species of timber, the cross section di-
mension and whether it is round or square, Round timbers
with one-half inch or more of sap require submersion of
timbers in each bath of from thirty minutes to one hour.
Square timbers are treated by rule of thumb and experience
and require one hour treatment in each bath for each inch
in thickness, The temperature of the hot bath should be
maintained between 175°F, and 200°F,, and the cold bath
at less than 100°F. and not less than 50°F, In lieu of
the hot and cold baths tor timbers naturally resistant to
penetration of creosote, a hot. and cooling treatment will
cive good results, i.e., the timbers are treated in the
hot bath and when the time has elapsed the steam ts shut
off and the timbers remain submerged until the oil cools
to air temperature, minimum of 50°F,

A standard specification for non-pressure treat-

ments follows:
1. Oil mast be a pure distillate from coal-tar,
2, The specific gravity at 15°C, shall be at least

3, Water mst not exceed 1%,
4, The FPlash Point shall not be lower than 100°C,
5, The matter insoluble in hot benzol shall not ex-
ceed 0.5%,
6, Upon distilling by the Standard American Ry. En-
gineering Ass'n Method, the oil on a dry basis must give
A, Not more than 1% up to 210°C,
B, Not more than 10% up to 235°c,
CG, Not less than 25% nor more than 60% up to
500°C,
Liquid at 41°F,

A comparison of the following tables 1 and 2
will show the savings possible through the practice of
wood preservation, The annual charges were computed

from the following formula:

Awzfk 2 op" ~Op
~Op -
in which A x= Annual charge
R = Amount of initial investment

n »« Number of years in recurring period

.Oop = Rate of interest taken at .06
Table 1 = Annual

1 2 3 4** 5 6

Ties

1, 5"x6"x6'0" $0.35 $0.50 4 yrs, $0 246

2, 6"x6"x5 5! 0.40 0.50 4" 0.260

3,  6"x6"x5.5! 0.50 0.50 6" 0.204

Kntry Timbers

4, 5" 10'0" 0.85 0,50 5 y#s, 0.32/

5, 6? 1210" 1.20 1.20 5" 0.570

6, 7§ 1419" 2.00 2.10 5" 0.974

7, 8* 1610" 2.50 3.20 5" 1,995

8, 9' 18'0" 4,25 4,50 5" 2.080

Shaft Timbers*

9, 3" x 12" Oak {150.00 $50.00 8 yrs, 32.30
10, 4" x12" Pine 74,00 50.00 6" 25.65
11, 5" x 12" Oak 150,00 650,00 5" 47,50
12, 6" x 8" Oak 95.00 50.00 10 " 19,70
13, 3" x12" Pine 72.00 50,00 5" 29.00

cost of untreated timbers in place.

* All figures based on M ft. B. M,

* Includes cost of hauling undergrou.d, framing and erection,
Note; The following legend ap lies to the above

table,

1. Index 4, Cost to place in mine

ze. Dimensions of timbers 5, Reported average life

5, Cost per piece at mine, 6, Annusl cost in place

summer 1920,

 
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°oeTd UT ST9UWT. DO4V9742 =O 2500 [enIwUyY - 2g ela 37
* Based on using Carbosota Liquid Creosote Oil manufact~-
ured by The Barrett Company.

**% Includes labor to handle--incidentals and depreciation.
In case of round entry timbers it includes the cost to
peel, season (two handlings) and interest on investment
while seasoning.

A study of the tables 1 and 2 shows that while
the cost of creosoting is quite an item it is only a
small portion of the timber and placing cost.

The tables also show that the savings possible
by creosoting timbers in the Open Tank process are great
enough that it will pay mine operators to adopt the prac~
tice of wood preservation on all permanently located mine
timbers.

The ordinary mine operation will require several
carloads of main haul ties per year and when a saving of
$0.05 per tie per year can be madea considerable yearly
saving results.

The saving when main entry timbers are cresoted
is approximately $0.33 per piece per year». Mines in I1l1-
inois have on the average two miles of heavily timbered
main entry and these usually require about 53500 sets of
timber, three pieces tp a set. This item alone effects
&@ considerable saving and should be of particular

interest to mine operators.
 

 

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The savings due to the practice of creosoting shaft tim-
bers are higher than the other two classes because there
is usually less mechanical wear on these timbers and
there are no great numbers of squeezes and crushes which
materially shorten the mechanical life of mine timbers.
If decay can be prevented or retarded the period of
service of shaft timbers can be at least doubled and in
most cases trebled.

Experience has shown us that creosoted timbers
will not only last longer than untreated timbers but the
increase in the life will be such that the ultimate
annual cost of maintaining the creosoted timbers will
be much less than that of the natural untreated timbers,

The tables clearly show that appreciable amounts
of money can be saved in a comparatively short time
by the practice of wood preservation.

Wood preservation is economical, practical and

available to every mine operator.
Aprendix

Figure l- Fungus fruiting bodies

" £- Decay oh surface structures

" 3- Poor piling

" 4—- Decay on coal tipple timbers

" 5- Dry rot fungus fruiting bodies

" 6- Storage yard of mine

" 7- Mine timber yard

" 8=- Loading ties into racks for treatment
" 9- Lowering rack of ties into tank

" 10=- Hot and cold treating tanks
" ll- Two creosoting tanks at Indiana mine

" l2- View of mine yard

Perspective of Open tank Process Plant

Detail of Plant
 

Figure 1.- Fungus fruiting bodies on cross bar timbers

in timber storage yard. (Courtesy The Barrett Company)

 

 

Fipure 2.- Decay on surface mine structures above ground,

(Courtesy The Barrett Company)
 

  
  

 

Figure 3,- Poorly piled leg and cross bar timbers of mixed

hardwoods, Fungi growing on several timbers, Better in-

spection is oo (Courtesy Barrett Company)

 

Figure 4,- Decay on coal tipple timbers at points of

contact, (Courtesy The Barrett Company)
 

|

Figure 5.- Dry rot fungus fruiting bodies on cross bar
timbers in main entry of mine 250 feet below ground,

(Courtesy The Barrett Company)

 

 

Figure 6,=- Some mines do carry a great amount of timber
on hand, In order to practice wood preservation this is
necessary and in addition all timbers should be peeled

thoroughly. (Courtesy The Barrett Company)
 

 

 

Figure 7.- A mine timber yard, Shows supply carried on
hand and also shows men loading s mine car with timbers
to be used in timbering operations in the mine entries,

ourtesy The Barrett Company)

 

 

 

Pigure 8.- Loading ties into racks prior to giving treat-

ment, (Courtesy The Barrett Company)
 

 

 

 

Figure 9,- Lowering rack of ties into the tank containing

hot creosote, (Courtesy The Barrett Company)

  
 

 

 

i

Figure 10,- Hot and cold treating tanks built of wood
lined with metal, A good type for mines, (Courtesy
‘The Barrett Company)
 

 

Figure 11,.- Two creosoting tanks at an Indiana mine, West
of Vandalia, Built of concrete and equipped with coils
to give hot and cooling treatment. (Courtesy The Barrett
Company)

 

 

 

Figure 12,- View of yard near mine showing treating tanks
in the distance, (Courtesy The Barrett Company)
 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

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