Lumbering in Colorado 55 



The only serious trouble encountered in sawing up the tree 

 is pinching, and this is often very aggravating. If the ends of 

 the felled trees are higher than the centers there will be pinching. 

 Except in extreme cases this can be overcome by means of 

 the wedge. But when the wedge will not open up the cut suf- 

 ficiently for the saw to be pulled back and forth a lever must be 

 used. A stick of sufficient strength is cut and the log is pried up 

 until the saw is freed and cutting can continue. Sometimes 

 under-cutting is done with the axe, or often with the saw when it 

 can be loosened. As the logs are cut, their respective lengths 

 are marked on the small end with lumber crayon. If there are 

 several contractors working upon the same tract, an end mark is 

 also put on so that the logs will not be mixed in scaling. 



The size of the log varies with the species. In spruce, 

 twenty logs per thousand feet is considered a good average, but 

 in pine this often runs to thirty with an average of twenty-six or 

 twenty-seven. The number of cutters necessary depends upon 

 the timber and the amount sawed at the mill. Usually four or 

 five are sufficient, unless logs are being cut for winter sawing. 



When enough logs are cut skidding is commenced. If logs 

 are piled on the skids to remain until winter, the skidways are 

 built with some care and are usually fairly large. They are 

 located with reference to the lay of the land and to the number 

 of logs that are to be piled on them. The logs must be pull'ed 

 down hill, hence the skidway is always below the majority of 

 them. A single log is rolled down upon the skidway and securely 

 blocked for the security of all the rest depends upon this " key- 

 log." In some cases this gives way and the logs roll down the 

 hill. Logs are piled up on these skidways as high and as far 

 back as need be. For convenience in scaling the small ends are 

 kept flush, but usually not all on one side, for this would make 

 the pile lop-sided. As many as three or four hundred logs can 

 be piled on a single skidway. 



When the logs are hauled away as they are skidded, not much 

 work is necessary in preparing the skid-way. The only require- 

 ment is a clear space about twenty feet wide with not too steep 

 a slope. Logs are pulled onto this and the first one is blocked 

 with a rock or stick to keep it from rolling down hill. Usually 

 there are not over fifteen logs on it at a time, often only a single 

 load. The skidding crew consists of one or two men and a 

 single horse or rarely a team. The second man is called a 

 "swamper" and it is his duty to clear trails and help in hitching 

 onto the log. He generally aids the logger in loading. How- 

 ever, it sometimes happens that the skidder must do his own 

 swamping. The skid horse, which must be a powerful animal, 



