246 LOGGING 
of water on which the logs can be floated to destination. This 
process is called "swinging" when the distance for which the 
timber is moved is relatively short and ground improvements 
are not made. "Roading" is a term frequently applied to the 
movement of timber for comparatively long distances, and of- 
ten presupposes some form of ground improvements such as the 
installation of fore-and-aft roads. The two terms often are used 
indiscriminately, however, and the term roading may be applied 
to short distance hauling without ground improvements. 
There is no standard practice with reference to swinging and 
roading because operators are not fully agreed as to the merits 
of this system especially for logging on a relatively flat chance. 
The tendency some years ago, when railroad spurs began to 
displace skid roads, was to put the railroad within yarding dis- 
tance of every log. This practice was feasible as long as ground 
conditions were favorable for comparatively cheap railroad grade 
construction. Many logging operations are now located in a 
region of rough topography where the cost of railroad construc- 
tion is high and modern swinging and roading methods have been 
developed to reduce the mileage of high-cost railroad that would 
be necessary to bring every tree within a single yarding distance. 
Ground and high-lead swinging are used preferably on the gentle 
slopes while some form of overhead system has proved the best 
in mountainous regions, especially for bringing logs up or down 
steep slopes, and across gorges. 
The ground and high-lead systems of swinging often are operated 
by the standard type of yarding engine which may be used either 
for yarding or swinging. In general a simple-geared engine is 
preferred when the ground system is used. The crew consists 
of five or more men, depending on topography and output. 
The minimum crew comprises an engineer, fireman, wood buck, 
hooker-on, and a chaser. 
The distance for which swinging is carried on with ground or 
high-lead equipment varies with the topography and the aim is 
to so locate the swing donkeys that the yarding operations will 
not be held up. Sometimes the distance for a single haul is 
1200 feet, but in general, it is but little greater than the yarding 
distance. 
When some form of overhead system is used to swing logs, the 
distances may be 1200 feet or more since it is practicable to haul 
