LUMBERING IK PINE REGION OF CALIFORNIA. 43 
winch operated by steam from the donkey boiler or a separate engine 
and boiler. The advantage of the separate engine is that yarding or 
chute hauling need not be interfered with to favor loading. Further, 
when a separate boiler is used, loading does not lower the steam in 
the donkey boiler. The crew and labor costs are the same with a 
separate loading engine as with a loading spool. Probably from 2 to 
4 cents per 1,000 should be added for maintenance; but this extra 
cost is undoubtedly more than offset by increased efficiency in yard- 
ing. A 7 1 by 10 inch three drum loading donkey weighing 11,000 
pounds costs $1,550 f. o. b. factory. A 6 J by 8 inch twin drum 
loading engine weighing about 7,000 pounds costs about $1,000 
f. o. b. factory. 
One firm uses 6^ by 8 inch loading engines at each yarder or chute 
donkey. The loading engines are placed on a platform on the oppo- 
site side of the track from the landing and the loading is done by 
means of a short cable exactly as in the horse crosshaul. The crew 
and cost is approximately the same as given above under the gin-pole 
system. Another style of loading, used by one large operator in this 
region, is a crotch line supported by an A frame placed on the front 
ends of the donkey skids. This A frame is primarily for supporting 
the yarding line and is obviously modeled upon the principle of the 
steam skidders. No landings are needed, but loading is difficult, 
dangerous to employees, and interferes to a certain extent with 
yarding. The loading crew is the same as that employed at each 
yarder b}^ the gin-pole system. 
Special log-loading machines have not yet proved satisfactory in 
this region in connection with donkey logging, the cost being higher 
than if a gin pole were employed. They are, however, very efficient 
in big-wheel logging operations, for use in loading from log decks, for 
transferring logs from one car to another, and for picking up logs 
along the railroad right of way. The type generally used is a self- 
propelling loader having an inclosed raised platform upon which is 
located a donkey engine and loading drums. When loading the 
trucks are raised up and the machine rests on four supports, thus 
giving room for the empty cars to pass underneath. The loading is 
done by a cable and crotch line passing through a block at the end of 
a boom. This boom is in the form of an A frame and may be either 
rigid or swinging. The cost ranges from $5,500 to $7,500 each. The 
daily capacity varies from 120,000 to 150,000, depending upon the 
chance and the size of the logs. It is usually found practicable in 
large big-wheel operations to deliver from 100,000 to 120,000 daily at 
each loader. At one representative operation the crew consists of 
1 engineer, 1 fireman, 1 woodbuck, 1 top loader, 1 second loader, and 
2 hookers, the total daily cost being $19.10. Water is supplied in a 
