146 
LOGGING 
Although the detailed methods followed in snaking vary in the 
different regions, the general procedure is about as follows. 
Swampers begin at each end of the skidway and cut out a main 
trail from 5 to 7 feet wide which runs to the back end of the strip 
to be logged. Brush, roots, and windfalls are removed and wet 
spots corduroyed. The swamper also cuts the limbs from the 
logs, snipes them on the forward end, if necessary, and cuts a 
"ride" on the bottom of the logs which are large or which may 
Fig. 28. — Oxen skidding a Southern Yellow Pine Log containing 1200 
Board Feet. Arkansas. 
have to be pulled up-grade. The teamsters draw the merchant- 
able logs to the skidway, working back to the far end of the main 
road before logs nearby, but off from the main road, are dragged in. 
Branch trails are built out from the main ones so that logs from 
any part of the area have to be dragged only a few feet before 
reaching a cleared runway. It sometimes is necessary to use a 
block and tackle to get large logs out of difficult places, but this 
method is seldom used until all usual methods have failed. 
Skidding for long distances is common in the rougher sections 
of the Appalachian mountains and in Pennsylvania where 
horses may be used to drag logs for distances not exceeding 1 
mile. The logs are brought down trails which are sometimes so 
steep that the animals must be returned to the woods by a more 
circuitous route. The skidway is placed along the railroad in 
the valley and a trail is built from each end to the top of the 
