SLEDS AXD SLED-IL\ULING 
181 
On long, level hauls it is customarj' to rut and ice the roads 
to increase the hauling capacity. This may be done daily on 
the last return trip from the landing, the rutter and sprinkler 
being attached to the rear of the train. As a rule, however, the 
road is maintained by a separate crew. 
Sleds are made stronger. than for animal haul because they not 
only bear a heavier load but are subject to severe strain in stop- 
ping and starting. The gauge usually is about 8 feet in order that 
the hauler may travel inside of the ruts. 
Where the road has steep ascending or descending grades three 
or four sleds compose a "turn" because in the first instance the 
Fig. 51. — Type of Sled used with a Steam Log Hauler. 
machine cannot pull loads of much greater weight and in the 
second, sleds have a tendency to "jackknife" and run out of the 
rut. 
In mountain regions, steam log haulers are used on the main 
road only because the cost of constructing suitable secondary 
roads is too great. Sleds are hauled by horses to a central point 
on the main road and there made into turns for the log hauler. 
In a flat region the hauler may operate direct from the skidway 
to the landing, because of cheap road construction. 
Landings should be arranged so that sleds can be run along 
the side of the rollways and unloaded without respotting. The 
hauler then need not remain during unloading but can at once 
start on the return trip to the skidways with the empties from 
the preceding turn. This method of operation necessitates the use 
of three sets of sleds; namely, one at the skidways, one on the 
road and one at the landing. The increased cost of ecjuipment 
is more than offset by the greater capacity of the hauler and the 
decreased labor cost at the landing. 
