THE DEVELOPMENT OF LOGGING OPERATIONS 



279 



nable job, if the number of logs were considerable; but 

 experts have constructed tables of figures intended to 

 show the feet of lumber that may be sawed from logs of 

 all ordinary lengths and diameters. By using such a 

 table the log scaler needs only to take the length and 

 diameter of each log, for the table shows the contents. 

 Nearly half a hundred log rules are or have been in use 

 in the United States and Canada, one rule being recog- 

 nized as authority in one locality, another elsewhere ; but 

 among the most important are those known as Doyle's, 

 Scribner's, Drew's, Spaulding's, the Maine, and the 

 International. 



Until about a hundred years ago there were no log 

 rules, except such as various lumbermen worked out for 

 their own convenience ; but when the purchase and sale 

 of logs began to assume importance, the need was felt of 

 some measurement which both buyer and seller could 

 recognize and it was then that log rules began to come 

 into use. No rule has yet been worked out that holds 

 true for all sizes of logs. From the nature of the case 

 it is impossible that such a rule could be made, because 

 some of the factors vary and affect the totals. For ex- 

 ample, thin saws produce more lumber from a log of 

 certain size than thick saws; and straight, smooth logs 

 yield more than logs crooked and rough ; while tapering 

 logs cut to less advantage than those of nearly the same 

 diameter at both ends. The best that any rule can do is 

 to show the average contents of logs of various dimen- 

 sions. Different rules vary greatly even in that, for 

 which reason it is necessary, in order to head off dis- 

 putes, that the buyer and the seller of logs agree in ad- 

 vance upon the rule to be used. 



Even then there is room for differences. The per- 

 sonal element has something to do with it. Two con- 

 scientious scalers, using the same rule, and scaling the 

 same skidway of logs, often show totals of considerable 

 variation. This is due to differences in judgment in al- 

 lowing for fractions in measurement, and for defects in 

 the logs. Still greater discrepancies result when the 

 same logs are scaled according to different rules. In 

 extreme cases the totals may vary as much as fifty per 

 cent, but the differences are not so egregious when the 

 logs are of various sizes, for, in that case, compensations 

 in one size will usually offset losses in other sizes. The log 

 rules are all based on compromises and averages, and it 

 could not possibly be otherwise, unless a different rule 

 were provided for logs of each and every size and 

 shape. 



When timber was abundant and cheap, only large and 

 finely formed trees of desirable species were cut. It 

 was the custom to sell lumber ungraded, or slightly 

 graded, and the purchaser would accept nothing but the 

 best. The log cutter culled the tracts and left the second- 

 class trees standing. Nobody wanted them. That is 

 changed now. Forests are usually cut clean. Every 

 species and every size goes to the log yard, except what 

 is absolutely worthless. Logs as small as six inches in 

 diameter are cut. There is little profit in such but it 

 pays better to take them than to leave them. The field 

 of utilization is now so wide and products are so varied 

 that every piece of wood meets a demand, though it may 

 be suitable only for a plasterer's lath or a nail keg 

 stave. 



TREES FROM PENNSYLVANIA FOR DESOLATED FRANCE 



THE Pennsylvania Department of Forestry, through 

 Governor Brumbaugh, has offered to the French 

 Government a gift of 4,000,000 forest trees seed- 

 lings from the State Forest nurseries, to be used in re- 

 foresting the shell-torn woods in the battle grounds of 

 eastern France. The tender will be made by Col. Henry 

 S. Graves, who organized the work of the forest regi- 

 ments in France. Following is Governor Brumbaugh's 

 letter to Cornel Graves: 

 "My dear Col. Graves: 



"I beg to invite your attention to the accompanying 

 communication from Hon. Robert S. Conklin, Commis- 

 sioner of Forestry of this Commonwealth, in which he 

 suggests the tender of four million white pine seedlings 

 to the French Government to reforest the eastern part 

 of that country, which section we understand has been 

 devastated by the war. 



"I beg to say that the suggestion contained in this 

 communication meets with my cordial approval, and if 

 you will be good enough to bring this to the attention of 

 the French authorities, we shall be very happy to carry 

 out the tender made, and place at their disposal any 

 reasonable number of seedlings which it is possible for 

 them to utilize. Very truly yours, 



M. G. Brumbaugh." 



It is not thought that such a large number of trees 

 can be planted while the war is in progress. The offer 

 is made subject to acceptance at any time within the next 

 two or three years. Much of the ground which needs 

 reforesting is now within the war zone. Foresters who 

 have been over parts of the occupied territory are of the 

 opinion that it may be necessary to plant even some of 

 the agricultural land to trees, and then clear it again for 

 farming after the trees have reached maturity. 



Pennsylvania is glad to tender this service to the 

 heroic French nation, the courage and tenacity of whose 

 defense have aroused the admiration of the world. She 

 is willing not only to send her sons to the battlefield, 

 but will add thereto such other material assistance as 

 may be necessary to bind up the wounds of this stricken 

 nation. 



In addition to the proffer of the planting stock, the 

 Department is ready, if need be, to send a group of her 

 remaining foresters to France to assist in re-establish- 

 ing her broken forests. It is possible, if the offer be 

 accepted, that parts of the forest regiments now in France 

 may be held there to do planting. The Pennsylvania 

 Forest Service has about forty men in these regiments. 



