420 



CHAPTEE V. 



COMPARISON BETWEEN DIFFERENT MODES OF 

 TRANSPORT. 



THE various modes of transport described above must 

 differ considerably in value in different cases. For many 

 forests no choice is possible ; the local conditions absolutely 

 decide the mode of transport. In the case of other forests, 

 especially in moderately elevated or high mountainous regions, 

 several methods may be followed, and the question is, which of 

 them is preferable? Some of the chief points determining the 

 choice of any particular mode of transport for a forest are as 

 follows : 



1. Conditions of Locality. 



The configuration of the ground on which a forest is situated, 

 the local climate, the density of population, the habits of the 

 people and the method of agriculture followed, all influence 

 the mode of wood-transport. In flat or hilly districts, with 

 mild winters, dense population and plenty of strong beasts of 

 draught, it is evident that throughout the year there will be 

 less difficulty in transporting wood in carts or on forest- 

 tramways, than in mountainous districts; this is. specially 

 the case with steep slopes, where road-making is difficult on 

 account of the destructive action of water, the number of 

 beasts of draught is limited, and snow falls heavily every 

 winter. Under the latter conditions, sledging, or a partial 

 use of slides and chutes, is to be recommended. For descend- 

 ing very steep slopes wire-tramways are best and deserve 

 more consideration than has been given to them hitherto. 



Floating and rafting can be followed only where water- 

 courses are available. As regards floating, mountain districts 

 are more suitable than hills and plains, where the presence of 

 evenly-flowing streams renders rafting a suitable method ; 

 rafting is also permissible and actually practised along some 

 of the weaker mountain-streams. 



