United States Congressional Serial Set Volume 4141 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1901 edition. Excerpt: ...and its tributaries. In these forests, which are leased for terms of years to the upcountry traders, the trees are first "girdled"--that is to say, at the proper season of the year the bark and sap are cut through all round the trunk close to the ground, in order to make the wood lighter and better for land and water transport before it is carried away, and to prevent what is known in America as sap rot. This is rendered unnecessary in countries where the cold of winter drives the sap out of the trees and thus prepares them for the lumberman through nature's own process. This operation must be completed at least two years before the trees are cut. The trees are then felled at the proper time and made ready for transport. They are afterwards hauled by means of elephants to the creek or small stream which is nearest to them. These several operations--girdling, felling, and transporting to the creek--require a period of about three or four years; but it is after the butts reach the creek side that the most formidable causes of delay begin to operate. Even if the season should be favorable and the brooks full of water, the logs float at a slow pace down them, and have to be worked forward with the aid of elephants by the process called "ounging" until they reach the larger streams. Here, their progress is impeded by blocks and obstacles of all kinds, and the assistance of elephants is still needed. The transport of a number of logs, after arriving at the larger streams, to the rapids--about 150 miles--requires on an average four months (in a good season), and thence downward to Bangkok, seven to ten weeks. Under the most favorable circumstances, they may reach Bangkok in six months from the time of arriving at the main...