SECRETARY'S REPORT. 155 



three or four to seven or eight men to keep one team era- 

 ployed — one man being employed in driving the cattle, and the 

 others in cutting down the trees, shaping them into logs, 

 barking them, and cutting and clearing the way to each tree. 

 The number of hands required is inversely to the distance the 

 logs are to be hauled ; that is, most hands are required when 

 the distance is shortest, because the oxen, returning more 

 frequently, require their loads to be prepared more expedi- 

 tiously. 



" Having built their camps, or while building them, the main 

 roads are to be cut out. These run from the camps to the 

 landing-places, or some stream of sufficient size to float down 

 the logs on the spring freshet. Other roads are cut to other 

 clumps of timber. They are made by cutting and clearing 

 away the underbrush, and such trees and old logs as may be in 

 the way, to a sufficient width for the team of oxen, with the 

 bob sled and timber on it, to pass convenientky. The bob sled 

 is made to carry one end of the timber only; the other drags 

 upon the ground ; and the bark is chipped off, that the log 

 may slip along more easily. 



" The teams proceed to the woods, when the first snows 

 come, with the hands who are not already there and the sup- 

 plies. The supplies consist principally of pork and flour for 

 the men, and Indian meal for the oxen ; some beans, tea, and 

 molasses are added. Formerly hogsheads of rum were con- 

 sidered indispensable ; and I have before me a bill of sup- 

 plies for a logging concern of three teams in 1827-28, in 

 which I find one hundred and eighty gallons of rum charged ; 

 but of late very few respectable lumberers take any spirits 

 with them, and the logging business is consequently carried on 

 with much more method, economy, and profit. The pork and 

 flour must be of the best quality. Lumberers are seldom con- 

 tent to take any of an inferior sort ; and even now, when flour 

 is twelve dollars a barrel, they are not to be satisfied with the 

 coarser breadstuffs. 



" Hay is procured as near to the camps as possible ; but as 

 most of the timber lands arc remote from settlements, it is 

 generally necessary to haul it a considerable distance ; and as 

 it must be purchased of the nearest settlers, they are enabled 



