HARVESTING THE FOREST CROP 125 



and rough spots in the roadbed and consequently makes 

 hauling much easier. After the road has been packed 

 and a few sleds or the rutter have grooved the tracks, 

 it is customary in many camps to send the tank 

 sprinkler out over the road. This tank sled is like 

 a city watering cart on runners and sprinkles each 

 sled track with water. By morning each groove has 

 frozen to make a solid track of ice. Such a splendid 

 surface is made in this way that, if care has been 

 taken in laying out the road with the proper grade, 

 a team of horses can pull any load of logs which they 

 are able to start. 



It is always the aim to have the outhaul road descend 

 gradually, which means that gravity helps the horses. 

 In steep country, however, sharp pitches are common, 

 and navigating these steep slopes is the dangerous part 

 of the driver's work. The speed of the loaded sled 

 may be checked by spreading hay or evergreen branches 

 across the road, or in some cases removing the snow 

 entirely. In spite of all precautions loaded teams 

 often run wild and many a pair of horses and driver 

 have been piled up under a load of logs at the foot 

 of such a slope. 



In some parts of the spruce country, railroad log- 

 ging is now being used. The sleds carry loads of logs 

 to the loading skidways placed on railroad spurs. The 

 logs may be either rolled upon the cars by gravity or a 

 steam loader may be used to lift the logs from the 

 ground and place them upon the cars. When the cars 

 have been loaded, the train starts for the mill. 



Life in a Lumber Camp. The life of the average 

 lumberjack, while containing considerable romance 

 and excitement, is nevertheless one of hard work under 

 conditions that are frequently rigorous. In many 



