320 
LOGGING 
side to rest on solid ground or on roots and provide a level support 
to the track. Even though the latter does sink temporarily 
under the weight of the train, it will go down evenly so that 
there is no danger of derailment, while shims or poles placed 
Fig. 105. — A Spur Logging Railroad Cordiuc .\ . , 1 with I'dli-. in order to 
provide an Adequate Bearing Surface on a Soft Bottom. Arkansas. 
under the ties parallel with the roadbed often allow the track to 
settle on one side. 
Another advantage of cross poles is that they will support the 
car wheels in case of derailment. One man can cut poles and 
lay them in place on 100 feet of track daily, provided the material 
is close at hand. 
When spurs cross swampy ground, some loggers dispense with 
ties and cover the roadbed with large poles 10 or 12 feet long to 
