Union Pacific Railroad

Western Union
April 1866

Mr. Dodge:

We've learned about William Burnett. In 1838 he invented a way to treat the railroad ties to preserve them. This method is called Burnettizing after its inventor. The plant treated mainly cottonwood ties under pressure with zinc chloride. Here is a picture of his Burnettizing Plant in Omaha, Nebraska. We suggest you use this plant to protect our ties from the weather.

UPRR Crew

UPRR Burnetizing Works at Omaha, detail, Carbutt Stereoview
Union Pacific Railroad Burnettizing works at Omaha.
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