24 BULLETIN 393, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
It was noticed that many teamsters were accustomed to loading 
1,000 feet or more of lumber on narrow-tired wagons, which resulted 
in considerable damage to the roads, especially in wet weather. To 
prevent this damage the county supervisors passed ai ordinance 
limiting loads of lumber to 1,000 feet, or 4,000 pounds, on wide-tired 
vehicles, and to 600 feet on narrow-tired wagons. As a result of this 
ordinance most of the teamsters have provided themselves with wide- 
tired vehicles, 3-inch tires for 2-horse vehicles and 4 to 6 inch tires 
for 4-horse vehicles. Since the roads have been improved drivers 
frequently hitch two wagons together and use 4-horse teams, hauling 
1,000 feet on each wagon if equipped with wide tires, or 600 feet on 
each wagon if equipped with narrow tires. On account of the ordi- 
nance limiting the weight of loads, it was difficult to secure from the 
drivers exact information on this subject. As a matter of fact, many 
of the teamsters hauled more than the law allows, and several of 
them have been indicted for violating the ordinance. 
It was found that on the aeereaued roads some wagons carried 
manure, hay, or merchandise on the return trip. For instance, on 
this inspection trip it was observed that one lumber team, on return- 
ing home 34 miles, carried 14 tons of manure. Another 2-horse lum- 
ber team returned with a 2,300-pound load, 34 miles. Still another 
team was seen making the 12-mile home trip with 1 ton of hay. 
Heavy hauling is now done on these roads all the year round, but 
before the roads were improved it was impossible to do heavy haul- 
_ ing at all at certain seasons of the year; the roads were simply impass- 
able, except for light vehicles and those who traveled on horseback. 
Where teams are enabled to travel both ways loaded the cost per 
ton-mile is lowered about one-half. 
The inspection made between April 2 and 12, 1913, showed that 
traffic conditions had further improved, and imstances were repeatedly 
met with showing that the improved roads had materially bettered 
marketing conditions. 
The character of products hauled, weight of loads, distance hauled, 
and cost per ton-mile of a portion of the traffic noted during the 1913 
inspection is shown in Table 6. 
