NATIONAL FOREST RESOURCES 177 



the timber was located on the western slope of the 

 mountains between 3,500 and 5,000 feet in elevation. 

 The slopes were of medium steepness and much of 

 the timber was on level benches. The large saw- 

 mill was located at the lower edge of the timber and 

 the logging camp was in the Woods near the cut- 

 ting. The felling of the trees, which were from 

 3 to 6 feet in diameter, was done by two men with 

 a two-man saw. These men are the "fallers." 

 Two men then cut the tree into logs and still other 

 men called "swampers " cut the brush and fallen 

 trees away so that the newly cut timber can be 

 "skidded" to the railroad. This "skidding" is done 

 by a powerful, steam-driven stationary donkey- 

 engine, which is fitted up with a long cable and a 

 drum. After the log is attached to the cable out 

 in the woods by means of a "choker," the man in 

 the woods gives the signal and the engine starts, 

 revolving the drum and winding up the cable at 

 the same time pulling the log towards the engine. 

 Just beside this engine is a platform from which 

 the logs are loaded directly on flat cars. When six 

 or eight flat cars are loaded in this manner a loco- 

 motive hauls them to the sawmill where they are 

 sawed into boards. In this case as soon as the 



