420 LOGGING 



Hewed ties are seldom made because of the waste in manufac- 

 ture. When cut, they are made by contract at from 9 to 10 

 cents each for chestnut and 12 cents for oak. 



Cordwood is cut and piled by contract, the price ranging 

 from 90 cents to $1.25 for a standard cord, an average being 

 about $1. 



The logs are snaked on steep slopes, and then hauled on a 

 log-boat, or on a "scoot" to the mill. These are used on short 

 hauls even when there is no snow on the ground. A log-boat is 

 about 6 feet long, 3 feet wide, and has a fiat bottom made 

 of heavy planks which are upturned in front. A bunk is placed 

 about 4 feet from the front end and on this the fore end of 

 the log is loaded and bound with chains, while the rear end drags 

 on the ground. The horses are hitched to a chain which passes 

 through the upturned nose and is attached to the bunk. A 

 tongue is not used. The scoot is a sled having two runners 

 about 12 feet long, with a 4-foot gauge, a forward and rear 

 bunk, and a standard length tongue. It is especially service- 

 able for short logs which are loaded on the sled. Wagons are 

 not used to transport logs to the mill unless the haul is greater 

 than I mile. 



The usual log requirements of a portable mill are from 5000 to 

 7000 feet, log scale, daily, and on short hauls two teams can bring 

 in this amount. The average days' work on an g-mile haul is 

 about 3500 feet per team. 



The contract skidding prices are about $1.50 per thousand for 

 a maximum haul of |-mile, and $2 for a j-mile haul for saw logs; 

 crossties 5 cents each, and posts 2^ cents each for the shorter 

 haul. The average cost of logs delivered at the mill, exclusive 

 of the stumpage value, ranges from $2.75 to $4 per thousand 

 board feet. 



Skidding and hauling charges are seldom separated for poles. 

 On a 3-mile haul, with wages and team hire at $5 per day, the 

 cost of skidding and hauling 25- and 30-foot poles is 28 cents each; 

 35-foot poles 42 cents each; and 40 or 45-foot poles 83 cents 

 each. 



Cordwood can be hauled 3 miles for about $1.75 per cord. 



