Creosote Council Blog
Wood Treatment in the 20th Century: Wood Preservation Takes Off Thanks to Empty-Cell Processes
Following a century of experimentation in treating and preserving wood for industrial and transportation purposes in the U.S., at the turn of the 20th century Max Rüping and Cuthbert Lowry developed wood pressure-treatment methods that revolutionized the industry. The Rueping Process and the Lowry Process, which followed just four years later, were both “empty-cell” processes that used substantially less creosote than their predecessor, the Bethell Process. These joint innovations made wood...
The Bethell Process: The Foundation of the Modern Wood Preservation Industry
How did the French Revolution, the Napoleonic Wars, and Britain’s Industrial Revolution bring about the need for creosote-treated wood for modern infrastructure? Industrial-era wood treatment began with numerous innovations in Great Britain and took on its modern form as the American economy burst on the scene at the turn of the 20th century. Early Wood Treatment: France vs Britain (1700s – Early 1800s) One of the earliest practical applications of preserving wood was recorded in 1705 when a...
The Origins of Las Vegas and Creosote-Treated Wood Go Hand in Hand
How did the City of Las Vegas get its start? Certainly with the help of railroad crossties that could withstand the extreme conditions of the Mojave Desert due to treatment with creosote. It's a fascinating story that began at least 125 years ago. To learn the full story, read our article: How Creosote Fueled America’s Western Development and the Birth of Las Vegas
How Creosote-Treated Railroad Crossties Led to Desert Railroads and the Birth of Las Vegas
Without Creosote-Treated Wood, the Development of the American West Would Have Been Different Background: Railroads and the Developing West Located just south of modern-day Los Angeles, the San Pedro harbor is emblematic of the Spanish missionary history of the United States’ west coast. In the early 19th century, Spanish monks from Mission San Gabriel Arcángel accepted provisions from Spain at San Pedro, although trade with other countries was prohibited. When restrictions ended in 1822, a...
Railway Tie Association Appoints Dr. Nathan Irby as Executive Director
The Railway Tie Association (RTA) recently announced that Nathan (Nate) Irby, Ph.D. has been appointed as its new executive director. The RTA was organized 102 years ago to promote the economical and environmentally sound use of wood crossties. Dr. Irby has most recently field managed the strategic sourcing wood tie program for Union Pacific, the nation’s largest Class 1 railroad. He has also served as an adjunct professor with Mississippi State University’s Sustainable Bioproducts program....