SMALL SAWMILLS, THEIR EQUIPMENT, ETC. 49 



small jobs when the ground is adapted to chutes and the operator has 

 some experience in chute building, their use is strongly recommended. 

 The cost will not be more than that of a good road, which few oper- 

 ators build. Moreover, the cost of trying to get his logs to his mill 

 over a bad road will be avoided. Small operators seldom cut logs over 

 18 feet in length, and these can be taken around a pretty sharp curve 

 on a trailing chute. The operator must, however, build a good chute, 

 or else he can not use it. 



Big logs should be peeled or rossed for chuting. The average 

 cost of trailing logs in a chute varies from 50 cents to $1.50 per 1,000. 

 Well-built chutes will, if kept in repair, last from 7 to 10 years. If 

 not needed for that period the timbers can be taken up, and after all 

 the spikes are removed can be cut into lumber. The usual grades 

 for long logs are — 



Per cent. 

 Dry chute ^ 15 to 20 



Ice chutes . 4 to 8 



Water chutes 3 to 6 



For short logs, ties, mine props, and field posts the grades are — 



Per cent. 

 Dry chute 25 to 35 



Iced chutes : '. 8 to 12 



Water chutes 5 to 8 



Hardwoods are better than conifers for chute ccnstruction. The 

 grade of inlet must be steep, and the outlet in running chutes should 

 be into a pond of water of sufficient depth to keep the logs from 

 striking bottom. 



LOADING LOGS. 



It is important to load in the right way, for every time a log is 

 moved unnecessarily there is a cut in the operator's profit. 



Dig a hole for the gin pole deep enough to prevent the pole from 

 sliding out but loose enough to admit of the pole being pushed back 

 a few inches in order to clear the logs when the load is being hauled 

 away. Make the gin pole fast to the sway bars of the truck or sled 

 with a short chain and grab. See that the truck or sled is in proper 

 line with the front end of the logs to be loaded. Set up the skids 

 with the ironed tips resting on the bunks or sway bars and (as this 

 is addressed to portable millmen) use a crotch line with light swamp 

 hooks on either end. Make each dog fast in the end of the bunk 

 or in the side of the sway bar. After it is passed round the log 

 hitch the loading line on the whiffletree or equalizer, start the team 

 up slowly, and see that the log is coming fairlj'^ on to the bunks and 

 not faster on one end than the other. Be careful that one end does 

 not miss the bunk and fg-U between them on the reach or hounds. 



