File:Canadian forest industries January-June 1919 (1919) (19908114473).jpg

Title: Canadian forest industries January-June 1919
Identifier: canadianforjanjun1919donm (find matches)
Year: 1919 (1910s)
Authors:
Subjects: Lumbering; Forests and forestry; Forest products; Wood-pulp industry; Wood-using industries
Publisher: Don Mills, Ont. : Southam Business Publications
Contributing Library: Fisher - University of Toronto
Digitizing Sponsor: University of Toronto

View Book Page: Book Viewer
About This Book: Catalog Entry
View All Images: All Images From Book
Click here to view book online to see this illustration in context in a browseable online version of this book.

Text Appearing Before Image:
142 CANADA LUMBERMAN AND WOODWORKER May 1, 1919 How the Timber is Logged for the Sawmills Various Operations in Construction of Camps, Cruising, Felling, Drawing, Skidding and Scaling—Methods Employed in Getting Out Cut By G. A. Mulloy and W. M, Robertson There are many methods of timber cruising in use in Eastern Canada, but they are nearly all based on the strip system. A few ocular estimates are still made, but this method is fast falling into disuse. An experienced lumberman may be afcle to travel an area and by comparing it witli a mental picture of some tract he has al- ready seen logged, arrive at a remarkably close estimate of what timber is on it. But with increasing value of timber the desire of a more substantial method grows. Many of the large corporations keep a cruiser employed the year round. Besides estimating the timber they purpose buying or selling, he determines what the various logging sub-division or "cuts" contain from time to time; what state burned-over areas are in; when it will be advisable to return to a cutover area; amount of timber taken in case of trespass, etc. After boundary lines have been determined—this may necessi- tate a re-running of the original survey lines—the compass man commences a line across the area. At the end of each chain he stops. The estimator then tallies all trees on a strip half a chain on each side of the line, noting diameters or diameters and height. He also notes the topography as he goes, thus obtaining at the same time all the mapping information necessary for logging purposes. They pro- ceed in this way right across the area. Arrived at the other side the)^ ofifset 10, 20 or 30 chains, depending on whether a 10 per cent, or less estimate is required, and cross back to starting side, vv-here they oflfset again. This work is carried on most advantageously in winter, after waterways are frozen and before snow is too deep. Broad leaves are not a hindrance then as in summer. To translate his piece tally into board feet, the estimator must have a volume table showing for each diameter or diameter and height the average volume board feet. If none is at his disposal adaptable to the field he is working on he must make one locally from actual measurements of as many trees as is feasible. Some Factors in Locating Camps During the summer previous to the first operating season on a tract the company owning a timber limit or the cutting rights en- gages a foreman who immediately, in company with the walking Idoss, travels the "cut" to formulate a working plan. From statistics in the office, he knows whether it is to.be more than a single seas- on's job and approximately what the cut should be per season. Then after travelling the field they decide whether it will be more advan- tageous to operate every season from the one set of camps or to mov. This, of course, is determined by the relative density and ac cessibility of the timber at possible camping sites on the one hantl. and the cost of new camps and a move on the other. These prob lems solve the size of camps, and the permaijency, and therefore- quality of them is also decided. Let us suppose the area has been estimated to contain 15 million feet and that all logs will be watered at one place. Then if a fairly central site can be found a good set of camps to be used four seasons to accomodate 100 men will be de- sirable. It now remains to select the site. This is done with the three factors; good water, sanitation and accessibility, keeping all clearly in view. Plenty and good water, the first need is sometimes supplied by a spring or more often a spring creek. Sanitation is obtained by avoiding swamps or wet marshy land, and by placing camps below the water supply. To be most accessible the site should be on or near the main haul road and as centrally placed to all operations a- possible. As much as 16 square miles have been operated from a single camp, where, the operation lasted over three or four years but as a general principle men should not be more than one and a half or two miles from the farthest work. The Construction of the Camps About September 1st the foreman begins to pick up his gang, 20 to 50 men, and with tents and equipment moves back to camp site. At once clearing commences and soon the miniature town site is ready. About three acres are cleared, sufficient so that possible wind- falls will be harmless and small enough to be windshielded on all sides. The timber of the clearing as far as possible is utilized for construction and the balance for fuel. Cfimps are almost always built of logs, as, of course, is to be expected, and until late years the build- ings were constructed of pine. Pine logs were easy to work with: being straight and cylindrical, they lay well and were convenient to obtain. However, nowadays most companies have put a ban on such wastefulness and penalize any foreman who uses pine for his build- ings. Sheeting lumber for gables and roofs and floors and tar paper covering are used. The general specifications are about as follows: Walls, of dove-tailed logs, 7 or 8 rows high, crevices chinked on inside with wedge-shaped cordwood and plastered or mud finish- ed. Floor joists, of 5-in. to 6-in. spruce or balsam poles, 2 feet apart, about 12 inches from the ground. Floor, 4-4 sheeting hemlock oi pine. Roof, almost invariably wedge—rafters of balsam poles, sheet-
Text Appearing After Image:
'

Note About Images