81 



The loading on cars is done by a separate set of drums and rigging. 

 To use this system, which may extend to a longer distance than the snak- 

 ing system satisfactorily, the ground must be tolerably free from rocks and 

 obstructions. According to conditions and distances, from 80 to 120 pulls 

 may be made in a day. A later improvement provides for a number of 

 side lines working simultaneously, by which the efficiency is greatly in- 

 creased ; otherwise horses or mules gather the logs to the pulling line. 



In the cypress swamps, where this method is largely used, the machine 

 is placed on a large scow, moving in canals prepared to float the logs. Here 

 the distance to which the skidder works is 2,500 to 4,000 feet, the ponder- 

 ous logs moving at the rate of 500 to 600 feet a minute, breaking through 

 the timber with thundering noise. Such a pull boat is capable of landing 

 30,000 to 50,000 feet per day in the water. 



In more mountainous districts, where narrow valleys and coves with 

 steep slopes are to be lumbered, the log-gathering system finds its condi- 

 tions. In this a cable is stretched from slope to slope across the railroad 

 track in the valley, and the logs are gathered to the track by the skidding 

 rope and carriage. The distance to which the system may work, depend- 

 ing somewhat on the degree of slope, may be up to 1,000 feet, when from 

 120 to 150 pulls per day may be made. 



In these last two systems up-hill skidding is, to be sure, as easy, or 

 even easier, than down-hill. According to conditions, either of these sys- 

 tems, or any combination of them, or a combination of skidding by horse 

 and steam, or a relay system with several engines placed one after the other 

 reaching out long distances, will give the best results. 



The first steam logging railroad was built in Michigan in 1876 by W- 

 S. Gerrish, who was called a hare-brained enthusiast for his innovation, 

 which, however, proved successful. Ten years later many such logging 

 roads of 25 and even 45 miles in length ; and altogether over 3,000 miles 

 were in existence ; in Michigan alone over 720 miles. Now the logging 

 railroad has become so general that the mileage may be estimated to exceed 

 25,000 miles. 



There are still three different kinds of logging railroads in use : The 

 pole road, the tramway with sawed wood rails with or without strap iron 

 capping or flat bar iron rail, and the iron or steel T railroad. Each road 

 has its merits and advantages of its own in given situations, although 

 the regular steel T railroad, all things considered, seems to have found 

 most favor. 



In the Cornell College forest a standard gauge with 40-pouna steel 

 rail has been used on spurs, and a 46-pound rail on the main road, with a 

 27-ton engine. 



The economical construction of logging roads which are designed to 

 serve only a temporary requirement is one of the engineering problem? 

 which more and more interests lumbermen, and even to a greater extent 



