HAND LOGGING AND ANIMAL SNAKING 149 
skids could be more easily placed and, if necessary, the angle of 
inclination could be readily changed. On level stretches the 
saddles were greased to reduce friction. Logs were fastened 
together by means of "grabs" into long tows, each one averaging 
1000 board feet per horse. A team on a road of this character 
formerly comprised from eight to ten yokes of oxen but they 
were later replaced by horses, from four to fourteen animals 
constituting one team. 
Drumming. — A primitive form of skidding, called ''drum- 
ming," is sometimes used by small operators in the Appalachian 
mountains where the slopes are too steep for animal skidding, 
too rough for cheap road construction, and where the size of the 
operation does not warrant the use of power skidders. 
A large drum, hung on a vertical axis, is placed close to the 
edge of the plateau. A long horizontal lever arm to which a 
team of mules is hitched is fastened to the barrel of the drum. 
A short, stout pole is fastened by one end to this lever arm and the 
other end drags on the ground in the rear, and acts as a brake 
when the drum is in operation. A manila cable from 1500 to 
2000 feet long is attached to the drum underneath the draft 
pole and is carried down the slope by men and fastened to a log 
with grab hooks. The mules, attached to the draft pole, are 
started and, as the drum revolves, the cable is wound around 
it and the log gradually dragged up the slope. Logs are drawn 
over an escarpment, and other rough places in a chute made of 
logs. Trails are not cut out for the logs. 
SNAKING EQUIPMENT 
A strong leather harness for horses and mules, and suitable 
yokes for cattle are essential for snaking logs. Horses and mules 
when worked in teams require a set of double-trees or a spreader, 
and two single-trees. 
Double-trees are preferred for flat ground and easy slopes, 
while spreaders, because of their lighter weight, are used on 
steep slopes, since they do not injure the horses by striking 
them on the fetlock joints or other parts of their hind legs. 
For single animals a spreader only is required. When several 
teams are hitched one in front of the other a |-inch draft chain 
is required to which each double-tree is fastened. The draft 
chains for oxen are attached to rings on the yokes. Various 
