56 Forest Club Annual 



is often cruelly mistreated, and it is seldom that he lasts more 

 than two years at this kind of work. As the ground is often 

 exceedingly rough and rocky, the horse must be willing to go 

 anywhere. His legs are continually being scratched up by 

 sticks and snags and it often happens that he loses his footing 

 and a broken leg is the result. Such qualities as gentleness, 

 sure-footedness, willingness and strength are necessary in a 

 good skid horse. He is taught to pull in short jerks because the 

 logs are often in tight places and this is the most effective way 

 to loosen them. The harness consists of a collar, hames, and 

 traces, the latter always chains. Sometimes there is a back band 

 to support the heavy traces. A bridle and lines are never used. 

 The rest of the outfit consists of a heavy single-tree to which 

 is attached a long chain with a hook at either end. The length 

 of this chain varies from ten to fifteen feet. In hooking onto a 

 log the chain is simply placed around the log at one end, and 

 hooked. The only difficulty is in getting the chain underneath 

 the log when it is lying flat on the ground. A cant hook and an 

 axe are necessary in the outfit. If the logs are not too big several 

 are hauled at a single load. This depends largely upon the degree 

 of the slope. Very large logs cannot be hauled by one horse, 

 but these are uncommon and are usually snaked in with the 

 logger's lead team. 



The horse is seldom led. In most cases he is guided by a 

 flood of unprintable language from the skidder. Main trails are 

 cut out and soon worn down and he soon learns to follow these. 

 The number of logs skidded in a day varies greatly. It depends 

 upon the size, length of haul, the condition of the ground, etc. 

 Two skidders are almost always necessary to keep the mill run- 

 ning. One good man, however, can skid 6,000 feet per day. 



Brush piling follows the skidding. Where labor is scarce 

 this is often put off for a while, but the contract usually specifies 

 that it is to be kept up with the skidding. These operations 

 are directed by the Forest Ranger in charge and are frequently 

 the cause of much trouble. Brush piling is at best a disagree- 

 able job and even when men can be obtained to do the work, 

 they seldom do it properly. In a few cases experts are hired 

 by day or contract and receive very good wages. At present 

 it is the practice of the Forest Service to have brush piled as 

 far away as possible from reproduction and in conical shaped 

 piles six to eight feet high and four to six feet in diameter at 

 the base. Pieces longer than four or five feet are cut in two. The 

 larger tops are trimmed but often left lying on the ground. The 

 biggest limbs are put at -the bottom and at the center of the 

 pile to insure complete burning. The brush is packed 



