The correspondence of Ferdinand von Mueller: 3 April [188]4 ¶ Sir ¶ ¶ In reply to your note dated 30th ult. ¶ I have to inform you that we use ¶ ¶ For Sleepers — Red Gum, Blue Gum, Iron Bark & Box as a rule when obtainable but in some cases S...

Document information

Physical location:

No 328/84, unit 37, p. 209, VPRS 431, outward registered correspondence, Engineer in Chief, VA 2965, Department of Railways, Public Record Office, Victoria. 84.04.03a

Preferred Citation:

Robert Watson to Ferdinand von Mueller, 1884-04-03 [84.04.03a]. R.W. Home, Thomas A. Darragh, A.M. Lucas, Sara Maroske, D.M. Sinkora, J.H. Voigt and Monika Wells (eds), Correspondence of Ferdinand von Mueller, <https://vmcp.rbg.vic.gov.au/id//letters/1880-9/1884/84-04-03a-final.odt>, accessed June 13, 2026

3 April [188]4

Sir

In reply to your note dated 30th ult.

See M to R. Watson, 30 March 1884.

I have to inform you that we use

For Sleepers — Red Gum, Blue Gum, Iron Bark & Box as a rule when obtainable but in some cases Stringy Bark, Messmate and other local timbers i.e. timber grown in the locality where the work for which it is required is situated.

Fencing — Red Gum, Blue Gum, Iron bark or box posts and stringy bark, Messmate & Blue Gum or local timber for rails.

Bridges — Red Gum, Blue Gum, Iron bark or Box for piles and all other posts in compression . Stringy bark, Messmate or Blue Gum for beams and other posts in tension .

Buffer stops Platforms &c Red Gum, Blue Gum, Ironbark or Box & sometimes local timber.

Rolling stock — Blackwood for framing of Wagons, Carriages, Vans &c. The floor, walls and roofs being imported Baltic Timbers.

Engines — No Colonial timber used.

The timbers which we prefer generally are red Gum, Ironbark and Box, of course these all vary very much in quality determined by the nature of the soil and the locality in which they are grown but each of them will I believe last, in any situation, at least three times as long as Stringy Bark or Messmate and if they will last three times as long they are worth considerably more than three times as much because the cost of replacing has to be taken into consideration. I made some experiments at Sandhurst many years ago to determine the breaking strain of Eucalyptus timbers. I cannot at present lay my hands upon the results but if I find the paper I will send you a copy.

Some experiments on a more elaborate scale have recently been made by a Board appointed by the Railway Department but no official report has yet been furnished.

I have the honor to be,

Sir

Your obedt. Servt.

Robt. Watson

En. in Chief

Baron Von Mueller K.C.M.G.

&c &c &c &c