164 



FOREST COMMISSIOXEU S REPOKT. 



The Maine 

 log rule. 



that, being simply a straight square stick, it is only adapted 

 to measure a log's diameter across the end. 



No method or instrument for measuring round 

 umber is prescribed by the State. The log rule in 

 general use to-day is the device of Mr. Charles T. Holland. In 

 a little pamphlet copyrighted in 185(5, and printed at Bano-or 

 in 1871, he gives the figures with which the rule was to be 

 marked, and describes the manner of their derivation. The foot 

 board measure is the unit of the rule. The number of board 

 feet which a log will yield is supposed to be governed by its 

 top diameter, and their actual number is found by plottino-. 

 Discount for imperfections, crooks and unsound wood have to 

 be left to the judgment of the scaler. The following is taken 

 from the pamphlet : 



MAINE LOG RULE. 



This rule has been prepared from fuU sized accurately drawn diagrams repre- 

 senting the end of logs of each inch in diameter from six to forty-eight inclusive. 

 The square has first been obtained as near as practicable, for the purpose, aUow- 

 lug one inch for each board, with a space of one-fourth of an inch between each 

 for saw kerf. The outside boards are reckoned in the same manner as shown in 

 the cut on the outside; including all that will work six inches in width and 

 upwards. In reckoning the fractional parts of a foot, all that amount to over 

 half are reckoned as a whole foot, and all less than that are thrown away, which 

 is the nearest average than can be made. As the rule is applied to the top end 

 the buyer has the advantage of tlie increase in size and also the saving in saw 

 kerf when the log is sawed into larger dimensions than inch board, and there are 

 ^ -■ -~^ one or inore two inch plank sawed 



with every stock of boards. 



The diagran)s and the computation 



are the work of a civil engineer of 



established repute and no one ac- 



k quainted with his work will doubt its 



* perfect accuracy. 



I claim for this rule that it is as per- 

 fect as it is possible for the science of 

 mathematics to make it, and I also 

 I contend that all rules hitherto used in 

 ■/ this State are grossly incorrect, large- 

 / ly overrating some logs and as far 

 underrating others. It will be 

 understood that there is no allowance 

 made here for defects, that being left 

 entirely to the judgment of the 

 scaler. CHAS. T. HOLLAND. 



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1\ 



T 



The "Maine" or "Holland" rule has thus been in use 

 many years in this State. It succeeded a variety of rules 

 built on the same principle. At the time when it was 



