WOOD TKANsi-oKT i;y LAND. 



In many mountainous districts, as in the Alps and Vosges, 

 sledging is the usual mode of conveyance of wood ; the work 

 is commenced at the first fall of snow and continued as 

 long as the weather permits. Huts built of wood or stone are 

 provided in suitable places for the workmen, so that they may 

 remain constantly at the work ; these huts prove useful also 

 during felling operations. 



The loads which may be transported by a sledge vary with 

 the size of the sledge, the skill and experience of the workmen, 

 the gradient, the nature of the sledge road, and the distance 

 of the collecting depot from the felling-area. 



Much greater loads can be carried down regular sledge-roads 

 than on mere hillside tracks. The load may be 1^ to 2 stacked 

 cubic meters, i.e., 50 to 70 stacked cubic feet. This, however, 

 implies that the sledge-road is in good order and to secure this 

 the workmen have often to work several hours daily. The 

 amount of wood a man can bring down in a day depends firstly 

 on the distance traversed, and then on the condition and 

 gradient of the sledge-road. With moderate and uniform 

 slopes and a good road, a man can bring down 3 to 5 stacked 

 cubic meters (100 to 175 stacked cubic feet) of firewood for a 

 distance of about 3 kilometers, say 2 miles ; or 10 to 12 

 slacked cubic meters (350 to 420 stacked cubic feet) to half 

 that distance. The amount of work done is, however, reduced 

 where the gradient is very slight or excessive, as in the latter 

 case the return of the sledge is difficult ; also, where the 

 gradients vary so that brakes have frequently to be used. 



. 



Sledging during summer takes place on the sledge road 

 described on p. 306, and both firewood and butts are thus 

 transported, 



In the forest of Barr, in Alsace, there are 24 kilometers of 

 Hummer sledge-mids, the longest being 7 kilometers. These 

 roads cost l:J pf. per meter (5d. a yard), and the round billets of 

 Bilver-fir and beech last ten years. The cost of the transport of 

 fuel is 70 pf. pur stacked cubic meter (2. per 100 cubic feet) ; 

 '2 tu f, .Lacked cubic meters (70 to 175 stacked cubic feet) of 



