PULP WOOD IN SOUTHERN APPALACHIANS 



691 



across and twenty high, it yet 

 takes twenty-four hours to fill it 

 from the little stream coming 

 down the mountain. On the in- 

 side, the planks slant toward the 

 slope at an angle of forty-five 

 degrees to give the structure 

 strength ; it is fifteen feet 

 through at the base and only the 

 width of a log on top. The gate, 

 which swings from the top, is 

 only six feet square, and yet all 

 the water which has been col- 

 lecting for the last twenty-tour 



less 



through 



m 



nours rushes 

 than two minutes. 



Following along down the 

 creek-bed, slipping and sliding 

 much of the way, we come to the 

 huge, widespread pile of billets, 

 and, farther on, to the wet-chute. 

 Here six men are hard at work 

 throwing the billets into the 

 chute. This chute is made of 

 smooth planks, forming a V- 

 shaped, nearly water - tight 

 trough, into which the water of 

 the creek is turned. The water 

 rushes down, carrying with it 

 the billets which the workmen 

 are throwing in. They must 

 work as fast as possible, for the 

 water will soon be dammed back 

 for another splash. 



After admiring the work of 

 the little stream for a few min- 

 utes, we pass along down to the 

 main creek of the valley. Here 

 work begins to take on a more 

 civilized aspect. A narrow- 

 gauge railroad has been built 

 along beside the creek in the val- 

 ley, and there is the little engine 

 waiting for the eight or ten cars 

 to be loaded with the billets. Between 

 the track and the chute is the big pile 

 of billets brought down by the water. 

 When the cars are loaded no time is 



LOGGING FOR PULP WOOD IN SOUTHERN 

 APPALACHIANS 



Typical pole chute, down which the billets come 

 from the slope above 



day; so let us go up the mountain again, 

 to see the Lumber Jack in camp. 



Up, up, up the winding trail we 

 climb, until at last we reach the crown 

 lost in getting under way for the pulp of the ridge, which is the timber line as 

 mill, some ten miles distant. well, for the other side has not been 



To follow the wood to the mill and logged as yet. The long climb will have 

 watch it go through the various proc- its reward for us if we but go up a 

 esses, from the shattering of the billets neighboring knob to rest, with all the 

 to the rolling of the white fiber into world below us. In the distance, ridge 

 thick sheets, would take us another long after ridge rolls into sight, and at first 



