340 REPORT OF THE FORESTRY COMMITTEE 



of logging to be a fair selling price for the equipment; the more permanently- 

 located companies usually make a flat depreciation of 10%. 



The bucking and falling are, almost without exception, done by day wages 

 now. In most of the large camps there is a timber inspector or head bucker, whO' 

 looks after the buckers and fallers. His duties include the placing of the men,, 

 keeping the stumps down, watching for unnecessary breakage, and seeing that 

 the logs are not only measured correctly, but that they are cut so as to get the 

 best possible scale. This item of keeping a close supervision over ilie cutting and 

 measuring of the timber is beginning to receive the consideration that it deserves,, 

 and careful operators are giving more attention tn it than in years past. 



In yarding and hauling the tendency is to use powerful, high-geared engines. 

 An engine with 11" by 13" cylinders, using 1J4" main line, is as small as can be 

 practically used in rough country and in the average run ot :'.r timber. Short 

 yarding is the rule where practicable, from 500' to 600' being tl'c ma.ximum haul 

 under good conditions. In rough and more inaccessible country, however, the 

 logs are yarded from 1,000' to 1,200' at times. Haul-back lines are usually ^"^ 

 and are now supplemented by a light "ginney" line 34" to }i" in sire, which is 

 used to take out the haul-back line, and for other light pulls where the heavier 

 lines would prove much harder to handle. Where possible, the logs are yarded 

 up hill, as there is much less tendency for the lines to foul or for the checkers to 

 slip, especially in wet weather. In some places, however, this is impossible, and 

 the logs must be yarded down hill. To meet the difficulties involved in this down- 

 hill haul over steep slopes, several systems have been devised which left the 

 ends of the logs off the ground, thus doing away with all chances of fouling. 

 Perhaps the best known of these systems is the MacFarline Skyline, which is 

 amply described in the enclosed article: The Lidgerwood system has been used 

 with considerable success under certain conditions, and is constantly being 

 modified to suit the varying requirements of this section. So far, it has been 

 used with good results in comparatively level country where the timber was of 

 moderate size. The use of these overhead systems will undoubtedly increase as 

 the operators become more familiar with their use, and as the logging gets back 

 into the rougher, more inaccessible country. 



The number of machines to a "side" varies from one, in comparatively easy 

 country, to as many as nine in exceptionally difficult situations. A "side" con- 

 sists of the crew and machinery necessary to handle the logs from one 'yarder." 

 Where a number of engines are found to the "side," each "side" usually makes a 

 camp. If only one or two machines be used to the "side," often as many as four 

 "sides" are run from one camp. 



Snubbing machines are used on pole or skid roads where the slope is so steep 

 that the logs would run if not kept under control. The latest device in this line 

 is described by the accompanying article. It has been successfully used by several 

 companies. 



The chute is a thing of the past in up-to-date logging operations The loss 

 of timber from breakage was so great that it has become economically impos- 

 sible. The snubber has taken its place. 



