142 Forestry Quarterly. 



back to supply the skidroads ; but now if water cannot be found 

 near by, it is pumped up with separate engines. Besides water in 

 the skidroads, the skids are greased by the "skid greaser" to 

 make the logs run smoothly. 



Along the main skidroad are usually strung two electric wires, 

 that, when brought in contact with each other, will ring a bell at 

 the bull donkey. One ring of the bell means "start" ; and "stop" 

 when the donkey is running. Two rings mean "back up," and 

 this will pull the cable in the opposite direction. It is essential 

 to have this system, in order to bring the bull load to a stand 

 still on any part of the road, or to start it. 



At the landing the bull donkey may also handle the loading on 

 the railroad cars, or there may be a separate "loading donkey." 

 The loading is done by bringing the cable several times around 

 the log and hooking in, and then rolling on skids upon the car. 

 The logs are fastened to the car with two "grab hook chains" at 

 each end of the load. These chains are long enough to pass each 

 other on the top of the load and are fastened a little distance 

 down on each side. This is a simple and very efficient means, 

 but of course leaves a few hookmarks on some of the logs. The 

 logs are carried to the mill-pond by railroads and dumped into 

 the mill-pond by loosening the chains and running the cars over a 

 tilted track. 



The sawmills are naturally somewhat more heavily constructed 

 than sawmills in general. The largest logs are usually taken into 

 the mill on carriages, and are often split in two on an exception- 

 ally large band-saw before they are cut into smaller sizes. The 

 redwood is sawed into boards, planks, dimension stuff, shingles, 

 lath, and is used for turning, sash and doors, boxes, etcetera. 



The wood takes a good polish, and the curly wood especially 

 makes an elegant and handsome finish. Burls often occur 5 feet 

 through, and are frequently utilized for fancy furniture. The 

 lumber is mainly sold on the coast and shipped to the Orient. 



The enormous waste in lumbering that formerly took place, 

 has now been reduced considerably ; but there are yet large 

 quantities of good material that is not utilized. While now the 

 stumps in most places are supposed to be cut very low, several 

 hundred feet of lumber could be saved from many of them. 

 The wood near the stump is usually of better quality than the 

 rest of the tree, and is certain to make first class shingles, box- 



