LUMBERING IN PIKE REGION OF CALIFORNIA. 27 
Table 5. — Approximate cost of best grade of logging blocks. 
Kind of block. 
Size of sheave. 
Weight. 
Cost. 
Trip line 
Tail block 
Do 
Yarding block 
Do 
Do 
Tommy Moore 
Do 
Moving block 
Roading and yarding spool 
lObyl.. 
15byli. 
19byli. 
8 by 2... 
10by2i. 
12 by 2|. 
14 by 8.. 
16 by 8.. 
18 by 2i. 
14 by 8:. 
Inches. 
Pounds. 
52 
132 
230 
210 
S15 
25 
35 
21 
25 
30 
50 
60 
50 
45 
In addition to blocks, so-called "fair-leaders" are placed on the 
front of the sleds of narrow drum yarders, for the main line and some- 
times for the back line. The cost ranges from $50 to $100 each, 
depending upon size. 
Operation. — Yarding begins with the moving of the machine to its 
setting, which may be either on a railroad spur, a chute, or a roading 
trail. After the machine is set, the back or trip line is hauled out by 
a horse around several runs, passed through the tailblock and returned 
to the donkey along the line of the first run. The outer end of the 
main line is then attached to the back line by means of a clevis. A 
short piece of cable terminating in the heavy butt hook is fastened 
to the end of the main line for the purpose of attaching chokers. 
Since the donkey is usually set parallel to the track or chute, a 
Tommy Moore is ordinarily placed at a distance of from 200 to 250 
feet from the donkey, for a main lead block. Its purpose is to steer 
the logs into a bucking chute, or to bring them in parallel to the track 
for loading, and to give the cable the right lead for spooling on the 
drums. A second Tommy Moore may also be used farther out in 
the woods when it is necessary to avoid obstacles or change the 
direction of the lead. The trip line blocks are placed at intervals on 
the back line to hold it up from logs and rocks. 
When the cable has been strung and everything is in readiness for 
logging, the back line is reeled up on the return drum and the main 
line hauled out to the first log. A choker has previously been 
hooked around one end of the log. The free end of the choker is 
attached to the butt hook and the main line is reeled in, bringing the 
log with it. The log must be stopped at the lead block, slack pulled 
in the main line by the back line, and the choker unhooked and 
passed around the block. At the landing the choker is unhooked 
and the line returned to the woods for another log. 
Each round trip is designated as a turn. The common trail made 
by the logs taken in from one location of the tail block is called a 
run. When a run is completed the tail block and back line must be 
shifted to the next run. One, two, or three logs may be brought in 
