236 LOGGING 



at lo-foot intervals on the upper part, and closer together near 

 the base where the strain is greatest. Side poles serve as fenders 

 to keep the logs in the chute. The apron extends out over the 

 water in order to prevent the logs from striking bottom and is 

 nearly parallel to the surface. The change in gradient from the 

 slip to the apron must be gradual or the impact of the logs 

 against the latter will soon destroy it. Chutes are used only 

 when no other means of transport is feasible; for even under the 

 most favorable operating conditions many logs are broken or 

 damaged. 



In the Northeast chutes similar to the one shown in Fig. 68 

 are occasionally built for bringing logs down steep slopes. 



Another form of rough chute used in the same region is built 

 as follows: A strip 5 or 6 feet wide is cleared down the slope. 

 Logs are then snaked to a skidway at the head of the cleared 

 strip, ready to be sent down by gravity. The first logs that go 

 down are used to form a crude trough of parallel logs down which 

 the bulk of the timber passes. Chutes of this character work 

 best after a heavy frost or light snowfall. 



In parts of the Appalachian region the logs are frequently 

 brought down the beds of the mountain streams. Where the 

 grades are steep and the bottom is smooth, little preparation is 

 needed, but where the bed is rough, poles are laid lengthwise in 

 the stream. The logs are started at the head of a cove and pass 

 down the slide with great rapidity, collecting in a rough-and- 

 tumble skidway at its base. Although timber is often damaged 

 by breakage this is offset by the cheapness of transportation. 



GRADES 



The grade is an important feature of all slides. On trailing 

 slides the grades are so low that logs will not run by gravity, 

 and animal or other power is required to keep them in motion. 

 Running slides have a grade sufficient in height to permit the 

 transport of logs by gravity. 



Shdes vary in gradient at different points along the line and 

 in some parts may be trailing slides and in other sections running 



