Log Scaling and Grading in British Columbia. 



By Andrew Haslam, Vancouver, B.C., in Canada Lumberman. 



The Doyle rule was used in British 

 Columbia previous to 1902, atul each 

 miU had its own sealer, who sealed 

 all the logs bought or logged for the 

 mill. The (Jovcirnment appointed 

 several seah'rs without salary, that 

 could he ealh'd on in case of dispute. 

 The system was not satisfactory, 

 and gave rise to a great many dis- 

 putes that were difficult of settle- 

 ment. 



In 1001 the Government appointed 

 a committee to formulate a log scale 

 that would correct the errors of the 

 Doyle rule. The eommittce were 

 Messrs. Alexander, King, and the 

 writer. Mr. Alexander represented 

 the mills. Mr. King the loggers, and 

 the writer llie (lovernment interest. 

 This eommiftee ignored all previous 

 ruh's and to arrive at an accurate 

 result had a drawing made oY the end 

 of each size of log from twelve inches* 

 diameter to 73 inches, including 

 both. The drawing was made show- 

 ing a slab three-fourths of an inch 

 thick on each of the four sides. In- 

 side of the slab a kerf three-eighths 

 of an ineli, then the log inside that 

 was laid off in inch l)oards and three- 

 eighths of an inch kerf alternately. 

 Everything three inches and over in 

 width was calculated in the contents, 

 but under was not. 



Logs that are not round are mea- 

 sured two ways, and the mean diam- 

 eter on the small end is taken for 

 calculating the contents of the log 

 up to forty feet long. Over forty 

 feet there is an increase in the diam- 

 eter of one inch for each ten feet 

 over forty feet. 



The rule made on this base was 

 legalized by an act of the legislature 

 in 1902 and was named the "British 

 Columbia Log Scale," and the use of 

 it made compulsory west of the Cas- 



cade Range Mountains. Kaal of this 

 the Duylc was legal until July 1st, 

 1909. The British Columbia log 

 scale is now legal all over the pro- 

 vince. 



The old method of allowing the 

 mills to have their own scaler was 

 legal until July Ist, 1906, when the 

 (lovernment appointed a supervisor 

 and scalers to do the work west of 

 the Cascade Range of mountains. In 

 making these appointments the Gov- 

 ernment pays a regular monthly sal- 

 ary and charges live cents per thou- 

 sand feet for all scaling, or, if called 

 for, grading. The mill is supposed 

 to pay all the sealing fees, but 

 charges the logger one-half. 



When scalers are required, there 

 is an order sent to the supervisor's 

 office, who sends out the first scaler 

 reporting after receipt of the order. 

 In this way neither the millman nor 

 the logger knows who will be the 

 scaler. Either party has a right to 

 denmnd a rescale. The scaler who 

 does the rescaling is not allowed to 

 make up his boom ; he simply sets 

 down the length and diameter of the 

 log and the volume is calculated in 

 the office of the supervisor, so that 

 there can be no collusion between 

 scalers. If the rescale is within three 

 per cent, of the original scale it is 

 held to verify the original. If it is 

 over three per cent., there is another 

 scale by one of the scalers or by the 

 acting supervisor. The supervisor's 

 or assistant's scale is final and there 

 is no appeal from it. 



In August. 1906, the loggers and 

 millmen met and agreed on rules for 

 grading all logs, except cedar. The 

 Government consented to the use of 

 these rules, which gives them a per- 

 manency in so far as the Govern- 

 ment's consent is concerned, but 



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