

Lumbering in Colorado 53 



man crew nothing but the double saw is used. The one-man 

 saw is from three to four feet long, generally three and a half 

 foot length being preferred. Sometimes it is "swaybacked," 

 and the thickness of the blade decreases toward the back, both 

 factors tending to decrease the amount of " pinching." 



Double saws are invariably six feet in length, since the 

 small size of the timber makes this sufficient. The handles are 

 always detachable, which is important when the tree or log 

 pinches back. In this case a handle is removed and the saw 

 pulled out endwise, no time is lost and no damage is done to the 

 saw. The thin-bellied saws are used exclusively, on account of 

 the small size of the timber. It can be readily seen that if a 

 broad saw were used, a wedge could not be used in small logs. 



The axes may be either single or double bitted. However, 

 most cutters use single bitted axes of necessity, for with the 

 other kind, wedges cannot be driven. The weight of the axe 

 varies with the man and is usually not less than three pounds or 

 more than four. Several extra axes and handles are kept on 

 hand. One or two grindstones are always found in every camp. 

 The saws are placed in a cut in a stump about four feet high where 

 they are filed with six to eight inch cant or flat files. There are 

 many different ways of setting and filing saws, but in most 

 cases it amounts to no more than a matter of opinion. Each 

 sawyer has his own method and no amount of arguing will con- 

 vince him that another way is as good. 



Wedges are indispensable and are usually made in camp. 

 An old worn out horse rasp cut up into pieces and sharpened 

 makes very good wedges. The length need not be over three or 

 four inches and the wedge must not be too sharp or else it will 

 cut into the wood and be of little use. It is best to have the 

 steel in these wedges of the same temper or slightly softer than 

 the axe head to prevent battering the axe in driving. 



Kerosene is almost as necessary to the cutter as wedges. 

 This is usually carried in a small bottle in the hip pocket and 

 has a special cork, so that the oil can be sprinkled on the sides 

 of the saw when it becomes covered with pitch. Kerosene im- 

 mediately "cuts" the pitch and the saw can be pulled easily 

 again. Not more than two or three applications are necessary 

 in an hour's time, but it would be almost impossible to get along 

 without it. A quart of oil lasts a week. This is always furnished 

 by the company, whether the cutter be hired by the month or 

 by contract. 



When cutting is begun the men work down hill often going 

 to the top of the ridge to begin. The trees are invariably felled 

 up hill, in the direction they commonly lean. There would be 



