FLUMES AND FLUMING. 
The wooden vshape flume. 
The V-shaped flume is at present the type of flume most generally 
used in the western portion of the United States, and it has given the 
most general satisfaction for the transportation of manufactured 
lumber or timber in its different forms of logs, railroad crossties, 
cordwood, etc. Some of these flumes have been in successful opera- 
tion for a number of years, and the writer, who has personally exam- 
ined many of them, has no hesitancy in saying that, if he were to con- 
struct a flume, the V-shaped flume is the type he would erect. 
Some of the salient points in which the V-shaped flume excels 
are: 
(1) It can be successfully operated with a less volume of water 
than any other type, since, owing to the V form of construction, 
the water is always held confined or "compact," and therefore has 
the greatest carrying power for the amount used. 
(2) There is less likelihood of jams forming, since the narrowness 
of the flume prevents the material from getting partially crosswise 
and forming a "brace" through the ends, "wedging" or pressing 
against the sides of the flume. This is a feature especially desirable 
when handling short material. The narrow formation of the V- 
shaped flume keeps the timber running "straight," and according 
as the volume of water in the flume is reduced the formation of the 
V keeps the water confined in the smallest possible triangle down 
which the sides of the flume compel the material to travel. 
(3) In fluming logs or round timbers the rounded portion of the 
log settles well down into the V. The water thus confined between 
the bottom of the stick and the sides of the V constantly tends to 
lift the log, and this keeps the stick from settling down or rubbing 
hard against the sides of the flume. In a square flume, on the other 
hand, the same amount of water could run on both sides of the log 
and not beneath and would so lose the tendency to "lift" through 
lack of proper confinement. 
Thus if a log or stick of timber is large and heavy, it may some- 
times nearly fill the V-shaped flume and occasionally touch both 
sides. But whenever this occurs the log has the pressure of the full 
volume of water which the flume can carry backed up behind it 
to force it along, and the V formation keeps the stick running 
"straight ahead," so that there is very little opportunity for the 
water to spread out or run around or get by the stick without taking 
it along with it. Its transportation is further aided by the uplift 
of the partially confined water, running around and under it, that 
is trying to find an outlet or relief from the pressure of the water 
behind, which must either aid in forcing the stick along or run over 
the top of the flume. 
