When the tree comes down, it is cross-cut by other men paid at a lower rate than the fellers, into such lengths as seem best. The smaller end of the log is then bevelled off and two deep notches cut, into which a pair of iron claws are fixed, and attached to the wire rope of the donkey engine. A signal is then given by wire from the men in charge of the log to the engineer, who commences winding up the rope, and with frequent stoppages caused by the log being jammed among stumps and other obstructions, it is at last dragged either to a prepared skid road, where another donkey engine hauls it to the loading point, or direct to where the trucks are able to load it. The loading is managed by building a rolling stage of heavy timbers down which the logs can be slid, or up which they are rolled by a donkey engine on to the trucks. Sometimes a dam is built and a pond formed, into which all the logs are dragged and rolled out on to the trucks. In fact there is no end to the ingenuity of the logging contractor in devising mechanical means for handling these great logs, often 4, 5, and 6 feet in diameter, with the least expense and trouble. Many logs which to an inexperienced eye would be thought valuable, are left either because they would cost more than they are worth to get out, or because they are more or less faulty ; and in all cases that I saw, the work is done without the least regard to the younger trees, or to the future. Sometimes half the trees are left standing and as much is left after felling as is taken. The price per 1000 feet at the sawmill is the one governing idea.
When the logs reach the sawmill they usually go into a pond, from which they are hauled as required up an inclined plane to the saw bench. In the largest and modern mills the band-saw has replaced the gang-saws formerly used, and works at an incredible speed, saving a great deal of wood which was formerly eaten up by the saw. Some of the band-saws are double-edged; and after taking off the slabs and squaring the log, it is then converted into whatever sized lumber is wanted ; the best quality being cut into vertical grained decking or flooring, 4 to 6 inches wide.
The ingenious arrangements by which everything in these great mills is arranged so as to save manual labour, must be seen to be appreciated. I found many of the men employed were Japanese, who are said to be excellent workmen and to possess both nerve and pluck.
When the boards are cut, the best are sorted out and sent to the drying kiln where they are dried for four or six days in order to prepare them for planing, tonguing, and grooving; which is usually done in another part of the same establishment by machinery, before the finished wood is put in cars for transport to the interior.
Much of it now goes to the middle states, anda great deal to South Africa, China, and Australia; but whenever very large-sized balks, masts, or piles are wanted, the Puget Sound mills are called on to fill the order, because no others in the world can supply timbers of such great size at so cheap a rate. Logs of 24 inches square and up to 100 feet long are regularly quoted.
The Douglas Flagstaff! in Kew Gardens, came from Vancouver Island, and was
1 Cf. Journ. R. Hort. Soc. xiv. 452 (1892).
