448 REPORT OF THE FOREST, FISH AND GAME COMMISSION. 



fit up additional .roads for hauling their timber. This is poor business policy for 

 the lumberman and also causes unnecessary damage to the forest. More skidways 

 than are necessary means, in a winter of deep snows, an increased expense to 

 lumbermen for shoveling the snow off from the front and top of the skidways. 

 Much of the unnecessary cutting and clearing out caused by making too many 

 roads and building too many skidways can be avoided by a careful location of 

 the roads and by cutting out no more branch roads than are absolutely necessary 

 to reach the timber without skidding logs too far, and by building larger skidways 

 whenever practicable to do so, rather than many small ones. 



There can be no set rules for the distance which logs should be skidded, nor 

 the exact number of roads to be cut on different tracts, since the number must 

 vary according to the topography of a tract and the point to which it is desired 

 to bring the timber. The location of main roads and branches should be under 

 the- direct supervision of the inspector in charge of the lumbering operations, 

 and no extensive road work should be entered into which has not first received 

 his sanction. 



Use of Timber for Building Skidways, Corduroys and Bridges. 



In selecting the timber to be used for building _ skidways, corduroys and 

 bridges, the hardwoods should be used whenever possible. Down timber and some 

 of the "butts" or affected logs which it is clearly evident will not be accepted 

 by the scaler can very often be used for the blockings for the front end of 

 skidways. This use of such timber is often cheaper for the lumberman and 

 much more satisfactory to the forester than if the men were allowed to cut 

 down valuable young trees for the purpose. Furthermore, it is at times prac- 

 ticable and economical to build skidways with portions of the trees intended for 

 logs, cutting the skids in lengths of two or three logs, as the holding capacity 

 of the skidway may require, using them for skids until the logs are hauled off 

 from them in the winter, and finally cutting them in proper lengths for logs and 

 hauling them to the landing. 



One advantage which the lumberman gains by using this large, heavy timber 

 for skids is that, although it takes a little more time to get the logs into position, 

 they do not require as much blocking up to raise them to the proper height. 

 Another is that the danger of large skidways breaking down after the logs are 

 rolled upon them is removed. Timber cut from small spruce trees should not be 

 used for building skidways, corduroys or bridges, unless it is impossible to find 

 other timber of less value within reasonable distance. As a rule in the Adiron- 

 dacks, it is seldom impossible, and the question of what constitutes a reasonable 



