LOGGING METHODS AND PROCEDURE 141 



pine was the leading species of lumber cut. The southern pine forests 

 became the great center of production, the peak being reached in 

 1907. Then there was a gradual change to the Northwest as a source 

 of lumber and a continuous decline in yearly production. The South 

 for over 35 years has been the great center of the lumber industry, 

 and owing to its vast areas of quickly growing pine and hardwoods 

 in a warm and favorable climate, this region is likely to be the center 

 of the future production of the American lumber supply. 



FIG. 79. A small Caterpillar 15 h.p. tractor used in ground skidding hardwood 



logs in Indiana. Small and large sized logs in the East and South can be ground 



skidded cheaply for short or long distances by small sized tractors. 



The enormous size of the timber in the Northwest caused logging 

 procedure to change vitally. For many years, animals, chiefly horses, 

 mules, and oxen, were used to skid the logs from the woods. Al- 

 though many yoke of oxen were used in the Pacific Northwest at first, 

 they proved to be inadequate and too slow in furnishing the great 

 sawmills that were erected throughout the region. Gradual changes 

 toward the mechanization of logging and improved devices in power 

 line skidding took place. Since the World War, vast improvements 

 have been noted in logging facilities, chiefly the introduction of the 

 gasoline tractor which in turn is being replaced by the Diesel tractor, 

 and improvements in power line or cable skidding. Since 1914, and 

 especially in recent years, the motor truck has come rapidly into wide 

 use in hauling logs from the skidding areas to the sawmills. 



There are four main branches of logging, namely: 



