44 BULLETIN 440, U. S. DEPARTMEISTT OP AGRICULTURE. 



tank car at a cost of $3.50 daily. The cost of loading, therefore, aver- 

 ages about 21 cents per 1,000. To this amount should be added 2 

 cents per 1,000 for maintenance of the machine. 



HORSE TRUCK HAULING. 



Horse truck hauling is much used at the smaller mills. Where 

 conditions are favorable the trucks may be taken to each tree and 

 the logs loaded with the truck team. In rougher localities the logs 

 are collected at landings by horse skidding or hauling in chutes. 

 Horse trucking permits a rather small woods investment, which 

 adapts it to small operators. Its use is limited to localities where 

 truck roads with moderate grades can be constructed at a reasonable 

 cost. In the level regions big wheels are considered more satisfactory 

 for short hauls. 



Except in some of the level pine lands in the eastern Sierras, a road 

 must be constructed to each landing for truck hauling. Such roads 

 should have no adverse grades against the loaded trucks, and not too 

 heavy ones against the empty trucks. Probably 20 per cent is a 

 good maximum. Pitches as high as from 30 to 35 per cent are used 

 in some localities, but at a heavy risk of accidents to stock. Many 

 of the roads are constructed by simply swamping out a right of way 

 and driving over it. However, whenever it is necessary to cross a 

 slope a road must be dug out. Except where solid rock is encoun- 

 tered, the cost of such grading will be about 15 cents per cubic yard. 

 Upon a 20 per cent slope the cost per mile is estimated at from $500 

 to $700. 



The trucks used are of heavy construction, and are usually partly 

 homemade. Frequently the wheels are cross sections of a log. The 

 tires are usually 5 or 6 inches wide. The four-wheeled type is the 

 only kind used. They weigh from 1,800 to 2,000 pounds apiece and 

 cost from $175 to $200, fitted with bunks. Binding chain and draft 

 chain equipment and spreaders add about $40 for each truck. Heavy 

 horses cost from $500 to $550 per span. The daily cost is about $1.50 

 each. The usual truck team consists of six horses driven with a jerk 

 line, the teamster riding the near wheeler. The braking may be done 

 by the teamster, or a swamper may follow each truck to set the brake. 



Several logs are pl'aced on a truck at one time, the average load 

 being from 1,400 to 1,800 feet. Upon an easy mile haul a six-horse 

 truck should make six trips daily with an average load of 1,500 feet, 

 a daily output of 9,000. The cost of labor and team expense is about 

 $13.50 daily, or $1.50 per 1,000. On a J-mile haul the same truck 

 equipment should have a daily output of about 12,000 at an average 

 cost of $1.12 per 1,000. In one instance, upon a haul varying from 1 

 to 2 miles from the landings to the mill, six outfits of this character 



