The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1911-04-20

log IN Which the markings and bark scaIaa r
HOIlneu 70 ehclrcle the trunk like a corkscrew.
NOT Is II always possible to make perfect boards.
even If the markings of the barl, arc In accord
win governing rules. Native intuition. difficult
10 dehne, aids considerably in selecting the best
L0e II practce OF chipping" is a final test.
~ tne most remote forests, many miles from a
rallroad' II is difficult to find an area. event. on the
crest OF a mountain, that has not been penetrated
ny the pioneer In search of splitting timber. Far
from the nearest settlement, in the depth OF a
virgin Forest, the intrepid hunter frequently OBJ.
serves these n~otchings for board trees. even when
there Is ehure absence Of other signs OF adyanc-
ing civilization.
Out OF Fl trees selected and clipped. while OBJ.
serving these rules. II were discarded. The re-
naming four supplied all the lumber necessary
TO complete the building operations and a sufi.
Client quantity Of choice boards for the mission
furnishings. After saving into eight and ten foot
lengths the logs were rolled into position for split.
ting. Then followed the scoring preparatory TO
splitting with mallot, maui and wedges. In the
diagram OF a cross-section Of a piece of pine board
timber the entering wedge points the line of the
first seam which separates the semi-circular
halves. The timber is then quartered and again
split the third time. An 1Sinch log will produce
eight well-shaped bolts, the most practical and
convenient size for splitting with a frow. Each
or these bolts is placed upright into an oak crotch,
which is staked firmly to the ground to act as a
support in prying. The cutting edge OF the frow
blade Is the lower side Of the tool when the
handle Is held upright with the blade resting
across the V-shaped end OF the bolt. The heart
is waste, which Is split from the bolt with a
wedge. When the cutting edge of the frow blade
Is placed across these markings the upper or
broad edge of the blade is tapped gently with the
mallet. This operation starts the board. BY rock.
Ing the upright handle to and fro the blade opens
a seam and is entered deeper with little exertion.
Ten or fifteen seconds Of this prying operation
win release a perfectly smooth board from the
bolt. All OF the lumber used is the building oper-
ations was produced by this method.
The same process was applied to single max
ing. The 5000 A-inch boards required for roof.
ing purposes, all split from 1Slnch log lengths,
were turned out by two operators with mallet and
frow in a day and a half.
Other timbers required, such as the solid oak
foundation stills, the pine ~sleepers. or flooring sup
ports, the Joists and the r%afters. were all hand.
hewn with a broadax from unseasoned trunks.
The work bench for hand planning and finishing
lumber was improvised from a halflog, "a inches
in diameter, mounted on two large stuups and
held In position with wooden pegs. Smaller wood
en- pegs were used also, to an extent, as a substi.
tute for nails and screws In the building opera
tons. An abbreviated assortment OF carpenters
and cabinet makers tools constituted the outh.
Completed. the dimensions OF the house are