LtTMBEEING IN PI^-E EEGION OF CALIFORNIA. 15 



his axe as a plumb line. It is then cut down by the two fallers, who 

 work together with a crosscut saw. In thick-barked timber they usu- 

 ally remove with axes a ring of the outer bark at stump height before 

 sawing. When the set consists of but two fallers, they usually pre- 

 pare the undercut together, and it may be made entirely with axes or 

 the lower portion may be sawed and the upper chopped. Saws are 

 used for aU other feUing work, even in small timber. Wedges are 

 used, when necessary, to tlu-ow the tree in the direction required. 



The limbs are then cut from the merchantable bole. Limbing may 

 follow or precede the marking of the log lengths, which is done by 

 limber, one of the fallers, or, on some jobs, by a log marker. All 

 hmbing is done with an ax, and one man to a felling crew is usually 

 sufficient. 



Bucking is cutting the bole into logs. It is performed by men 

 working separately, each with a crosscut saw. Wedges are used to 

 prevent pinching of the saw, and a shovel is sometimes necessary 

 when a log lies close to or is embedded in the ground. On some steam 

 and aU horse logging operations the logs are bucked kito short lengths 

 in the woods; that is, 12, 14, 16, and 18 feet. The more progressive 

 steam loggers are now having the trees bucked in the woods into one, 

 two, and three log lengths. These logs are then bucked into shorter 

 lengths by hand buckers or portable steam saws at each yarder, or by 

 a steam drag saw in the mill pond or on the miU deck. 



The standard felling and bucking crew consists of one set of two 

 fallers, one limber, and five buckers. In average timber the average 

 output of such a crew is from 35,000 to 40,000 feet daily. If an under- 

 cutter is added, three buckers must also be added, one of whom helps 

 with the limbing. The average daily output of such a crew is about 

 55,000 or 60,000 feet. Tlius, under ordinary conditions each faUer 

 is good for from 18,000 to 20,000 feet daily and each bucker for from 

 8,000 to 9,000 feet. 



The dady wages of the smaller crew are from $23 to $24 daily, 

 usuaUy the former. Under excellent felling conditions, one more 

 bucker is required, making the daily cost $25.75; and under severe 

 conditions one less bucker is necessary, thus decreasing the daily 

 cost to S20.25. On this basis the labor costs of crews of this type 

 arc about as follows: 



1. Very unfavorable conditions, 26,000 feet daily, 78 cents per 1,000. 



2. Poor tirn)K;r, M0,000 fof^t flaily, 72 coTits per 1,000. 



3. FairtimbfT, :>,'),(HH} f<;<;t daily, 65 rents per 1,000. 



4. Ordinary timlK-r, .'58,000 f«!(;t daily, 00 cents per 1,000. 



5. fJood timber, ^10,000 f«-et daily, 57 cents per 1,000. 



0. Very ((ood timlx-r, 45,000 Sect daily, 54 cents per 1,000. 

 7. iixcellent condition, 50,000 feet daily, 51 cqnts per 1,000. 



