26 FOREST UTILIZATION 



(h) The more saw timber improves while being bathed 



in running water, 

 (i) The longer the distance. 



(j) The more inclined the log owner is toward taking 

 risks and the less affected he is by reduced fertil- 

 ity along the river bank. 



Remarks: In the pine woods of the South in olden times 

 ditches were dug about three feet wide, connecting 

 stumpage with swamps and rivers. 

 The outlay per 1,000 board feet in splashing and driving 



is from 500 to $1 (for manual labor only). 

 River driving of cord wood at Biltmore from the upper 

 end of the estate to Asheville, inchisive of piling at the 

 boom, costs 500 per cord. 

 B. Rafting. 



Loose logs are tied into rafts at a place where the flow of the 



creeks and rivers begins to be more gentle. 

 Only rarely are rafts used in connection with splash dams on 



very rapid streams. (Black Forest.) 



According to the size and species of logs, rafts are formed 

 either with the logs lying with the stream (longleaf pine 

 rafts etc.), or with the logs lying square to the stream. 

 In this latter case the length of the logs should not exceed 

 eighteen feet. Square rafts consist usually of hardwood 

 logs. 

 I. Logs with the stream. 



(a) The logs are joined into raft sections, each sec- 



tion one log long; the narrow end of the log 

 points down stream; joining usually by rope, 

 cable or chain ; ring dogs or eye dogs are used, 

 or wooden pins in connection with auger holes. 



(b) At the tail section the rear ends of the logs are 



allowed to spread fan shaped. 



(c) The raft is directed by long rudders (sweeps), 



by brakes (poles which are pressed against the 

 bottom of the river) and pike poles. 



(d) The width of the raft and the tightness of bind- 



ing depend on rapidity of the stream, span of 

 bridges to be passed, sharpness of bends of 

 river and width of river bed. 



Remarks: Ring dogs for rafting weigh about \y 2 pounds, 

 are four inches long and have a 2^2-incli ring, through 

 which rope is run. Price loc apiece. 

 Eye dogs are made of J^-inch round iron, are six inches 



long and cost 6c per pound. 

 II. Logs square to stream. 



(a) The ends are joined by cross poles, sometimes im- 

 bedded in the logs and held in place by pins 



