14 THE WOODSMAN'S HANDBOOK. 



formulae; some by preparing diagrams that represent the top of 

 a log and then determining the amount of waste in sawdust and 

 slabs; some are based on actual averages of logs cut at the mill; 

 while still others are the result of making corrections in an existing 

 rule to meet special local conditions. 



The large number of log rules, the differences in their values, 

 and the variation in the methods of their application have led 

 to much confusion and inconvenience. Efforts to reach an agree- 

 ment among lumbermen on a single standard log rule have failed 

 so far. A number of States have given official sanction to specific 

 rules, but this has only added to the confusion, because the States 

 have not chosen the same rule, so there are six different state log 

 rules, and, in addition, three different official log rules in Canada. 

 It is probable that a standard method of measuring logs will not 

 be worked out satisfactorily until a single unit of volume, like 

 the cubic foot, is adopted for the measurement of logs. 



THE VARIOUS LOG RULES. 



The most important log rules in common use are the Scribner 

 Rule, the Doyle Rule, the Maine Rule, and the Spaulding Rule. 

 These are rated important because of their wide use ; though the 

 best rules, from a theoretical standpoint, are the Champlain Rule 

 and the International Rule; in practice, however, these are not 

 used to any extent. 



The tables which follow show a comparison of the different rules 

 for 16-foot logs of representative diameters. 



