30 



HISTORY OF LUMBER INDUSTRY IN NEW YORK. 



long, 20 inches in diameter, he uses this formula: (20"— 4") 2 — 256 

 feet. Having determined the contents of the 16-foot logs, all other 

 lengths are computed proportionately. Hence a log 12 feet long and 

 20 inches in diameter would contain 192 feet, or twelve-sixteenths of 

 256. 



Scribner arrived at his table of contents by platting circular dia- 

 grams showing the number of square-edged boards in a log properly 

 sawed. From these diagrams the amount of lumber was computed 

 for each diameter, after which a tixed percentage was deducted for the 

 imperfections common to an ordinary lot of logs. 



Doyle's figures for the contents of small logs are much below those 

 given by Scribner, while in large logs he allows more than Scribner. 

 Both rules agree substantially on logs of 24 inches in diameter, the 

 lines crossing at this point and diverging in opposite directions. For 

 instance: 



As a majority of the trees and all top logs are less than 24 inches 

 in diameter, the sawmill owners, being the purchasers, naturally 

 favor Doyle's rule. When logs were bought or contracted for with 

 jobbers at a fixed price per thousand feet, the stock cost less money 

 by using the Doyle rule. In letting log contracts to jobbers, or in 

 purchasing logs from outside parties, the sawmill companies have 

 always insisted on buying, contracting, and measuring logs b} r the 

 Doyle rule, as it discriminates in their favor. As a result of this dis- 

 crimination the old Scribner rule has gradually been abandoned and is 

 rareby used at present. 



On a lot of straight, sound logs from 10 to 20 inches in diameter 

 Doyle's rule would be too severe, and the contents as shown by the 

 saw-bill would overrun the log measurement. But with a lot of large 

 hemlock logs (which, when sawed, are liable to run largely into second 

 quality and cull lumber, because of the shaky timber and other defects) 

 the Do}de rule would be more advisable if the purchaser expects his 

 saw-bill to hold out, and to have a million feet of merchantable lumber 

 for each million feet of logs bought. A scaler who thoroughly under- 

 stands his business can, however, make the proper deductions in meas- 

 uring the logs. 



