Cross ties in A' or them New Mexico 



179 



show the defect. All ties must be smooth and of tmiform width 

 and thickness. The specifications further state that all ties must 

 be free from shake, loose knots, rot, score hacks and bark. 



The per cent, of the different classes, according to the past 

 season's cut, is approximately as follows : 



Class Per Cent. 



Squares 8.3 



Firsts 35.8 



Seconds 52 . 7 



Drys (made from dead timber) 6 



Culls 2.6 



Total 100 . o 



Making. Areas are allotted to the contractors who in turn 

 subdivide them, allotting small areas to subcontractors who are 

 held responsible for the proper utilization on their area. A full 

 crew usually consists of three contractors, about 40 subcontrac- 

 tors, and approximately 100 laborers, most of whom are Mexi- 

 cans who make their homes in northern New Mexico. From 

 one-third to one-fourth of the laborers are from the State of 

 Chihuahua, Mexico. These are the most efficient and rapid tie 

 makers, each man averaging about 25 ties' per day, while the 

 natives average only 18. A few Picuris Indians have worked 

 at intervals but cannot be depended upon for steady labor. An 

 unskilled laborer in this locality receives $1.50 per ten-hour 

 day, without board. 



The subcontractor organizes his gang, consisting of from two 

 to five men, and pitches his tent or some simple shelter close to 

 water v/hich may be near his area. The matter of available 

 water has a great bearing on the desirability of any area. It is 

 difficult to get men to make ties in timber that is more than a 

 mile from a spring or stream. 



The tie makers or, as they are commonly called, "tie hackers" 

 use the following tools and equipment : one 4 to 4^ pound double- 

 bitted axe and one 12 inch broad axe to each man, and one 5 

 to 6 foot cross-cut saw, one steel wedge, one light sledge hammer, 

 one 8- foot measuring pole and a bottle of kerosene (to cut the 



