SLEEPERS AND PIT WOOD. 317 



For Sleepers the standard size is 9 ft. x 10 in. x 5 in. ( = 3j- 

 cubic ft.) For 1 sleeper the small end of the section of log 

 must be over 10 in. in top-diameter; over 14 in. diameter 

 gives 2; over 18 in., 3 full-sized sleepers (and can also give 

 other 2 of small size) ; and a log of 22 J in. top-diameter will 

 give 6 good sleepers (4 from the centre beam and one from 

 each of two big side-slabs). The output of sleepers varies from 

 64 to 77 per cent of the total cubic contents of a log, while 

 from 23 to 36 per cent goes into slabs and sawdust. Log- 

 sections of 22 J in. top -diameter give the largest out-turn 

 (77 per cent in sleepers). 



Pitwood, whether sleepers or props, is of various local 

 dimensions, as different pits use different sizes. Sleepers vary 

 from 2J ft. x 5 in. x 2J in., up to 3 ft. to 5 ft. x 4 in. to 6 in. 

 x 2 in. to 4 in. ; props vary from 2J ft. to 6 ft. long by a 

 minimum diameter of 2J in. (3 in. over bark) at top-end ; and 

 bars vary from 6 ft. to 9 ft. with a top-diameter of 4 in. to 

 6 in. But, unless collieries are near at hand, pitwood is usually 

 sold in complete pole-lengths down to 3 in. top-diameter over 

 bark. 



The cost of conversion varies greatly according to the 

 dimensions into which the wood is cut. Sleepers of standard 

 size (9 ft. x 10 in. x 5 in.) can be turned out of large mills at a 

 cost of about IJd. each. And whereas hand-sawing costs for 

 softwoods 2s. 6d. to 3s., and for hardwoods 3s. 6d. to 4s. 6d. 

 per 100 superficial feet of boards, and 3s. 6d. to 5s. for soft- 

 woods, and 5s. to 7s. for hardwoods per hundred superficial 

 feet of planks, the mill-sawing and stacking can be done for 

 about 4s. per 1000 superficial feet of f in. boards, and up to 

 7s. 6d. per 1000 superficial feet of 1 in. boards. The sawing 

 of Scots Pine boarding costs per 1000 superficial feet about 

 4s. 6d. for J in., 5s. 6d. for -f in., 6s. 6d. for f in., and 7s. 6d. 

 for 1 in. boards. Sawing Larch stobs, 6 ft. x 6 in. x 3 in. 

 costs about 4s. 8d. per 100, and rails 3 in. x 1 in. to 1J in. 



