4IO Forestry Quarterly. 



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 loo.o 



Making. 



Areas are allotted to the contractors who in turn subdivide 

 them, alloting small areas to subcontractors who are held re- 

 sponsible for the proper utilization on their area. A full crew 

 usually consists of three contractors, about 40 subcontractors, and 

 approximately 100 laborers, most of whom are Mexicans 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 can not 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 which 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 4I 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 



