266 REPORT OF THE 



another method. Starting with the sixteen-feet lengths, the number of feet, board 

 measure, in a log of any diameter, is found by deducting four inches from the 

 diameter and then taking the square of the difference. For instance : in finding the 

 contents of a log sixteen feet long, twenty inches in diameter, use this formula, 

 (20" — 4") X 16 ^ 256 ft. Having determined the contents of the sixteen-feet logs, 

 all other lengths are computed proportionately. Hence, a log twelve feet long and 

 twenty inches in diameter would contain 192 feet, or three-fourths of 256. 



Scribner arrived at his table of contents by platting circular diagrams showing 

 the number of square edged boards in a log properly sawed.* From these diagrams 

 the amount of lumber was computed for each diameter, after which a fixed per- 

 centage was deducted for the imperfections which are common to an ordinary lot 

 of logs. 



Doyle's figures for the contents of small logs are much below those given by 

 Scribner ; while in large logs he allows more than Scribner. Both rules agree 

 substantially on logs of 24 inches in diameter, the lines crossing at this point and 

 diverging in opposite directions. For instance : 



DIAME lER. 



10 inches. 

 24 " 

 36 " 

 10 " 

 24 " 

 36 " 



As the greater part of the trees, and all the top logs, were less than twenty-four 

 inches in diameter, the sawmill owners, being the purchasers, naturally favored the 

 Doyle rule. The logs were bought or contracted for with jobbers, at a fixed price 

 per thousand feet ; and under the Doyle rule the stock cost less money. In letting 

 log contracts to their jobbers, or in purchasing from outside parties, the sawmill 

 companies insisted on buying, contracting, and measuring by the Doyle rule. As 

 a result, the old Scribner rule was gradually abandoned, and is rarely used at 

 present. In fact, Scribner himself discarded it adopting the other and publishing 

 it under his name as the new Scribner or Doyle-Scribner rule. The publishers claim 

 that over one million copies of this book have been sold, it being in general use by 

 lumbermen throughout the entire continent. f 



On a lot of straight, sound white pine logs, ten to twenty inches in diameter, 

 Doyle's rule would be too severe; the contents as shown by the " saw-bill " would 



LENGTH. 



DOYLE. 



SCRIBNER 



13 feet. 



29 



41 



13 " 



325 



328 



13 " 



832 



750 



16 " 



36 



■ 54 



16 " 



400 



404 



16 " 



1,024 



923 



*See diagram, p. 70, Scribner's Lumber and Log Book. Rochester, N. Y. Geo. W. Fisher, 1893. 

 f Published by George W. Fisher, Rochester, N. Y., 1893. 



