112 LOGGING 
Log-making in the large timber of the Pacific Coast has been 
developed along special lines. The large size of the timber 
prevents the use of a two-man crew unless a scaffold is constructed 
on which the men can stand. This is not necessary because one 
man with a 7- to 9-foot single-handled saw can cut logs to ad- 
vantage by standing on the ground. He starts his cut with the 
saw at an angle and gradually brings it towards the horizontal 
as it nears the bottom of the log. Thick-barked timber requires 
special preparation before bucking-up because the bark is a great 
hindrance to the bucker. The practice in redwood forests is to 
remove the^ bark from the log and when the refuse is dry to burn 
over the area. Bucking-up is then carried on by one man as 
described. The bark on Douglas fir logs tends to dull the saw 
and is removed along the line of the saw cut. 
Wedges are used to keep the saw from binding and kerosene 
is applied to the saw blade when necessary to free it from pitch. 
The equipment used for felling and log-making in small- to 
medium-sized timber consists of a cross-cut saw from 5^ to 6^ feet 
long with two detachable handles; a double-bitted or single-bitted 
ax; two or more wooden or iron wedges; a measuring stick; a 
bottle of kerosene; and possibly a wooden maul or a sledge for 
driving wedges. 
Similar equipment is used for large timber but the saws range 
in length from 8 to 18 feet. Spring boards also are required 
where high stumps are cut. 
Power Bucking. — In the sugar pine forests of California, hand 
bucking is sometimes supplemented by the use of the power- 
driven steam dago.^ The engine is moved under its own power 
to the vicinity of felled trees which are to be cut into logs. A 
saw frame and saw are adjusted at the cutting point on the bole, 
the saw is then started and left to work automatically while two 
other frames are being adjusted at other cuts. Saws are run at 
about 150 strokes per minute. 
A swamping crew precedes the saw crew and trims the felled 
trees, throwing the brush to one side to give room for the ma- 
chines. There is a decided economy both of time and labor in 
the use of the compressed-air machine. Nine men are required 
to operate it and the daily capacity is from 125,000 to 140,000 
board feet, with a maximum output vmder favorable ' circum- 
^ See page 90. 
