posts,
and caps depends on the thickness of the material, sixteen-penny and
twenty-penny nails being those generally used. The battens, are
securely fastened over the various joints or seams with six-penny
nails. Each box as completed is carefully set on the established grade
and firmly held in position with wooden wedges. The remaining caps are
put on whenever convenient.
Where
a flume connects with a ditch the posts for a distance of several boxes
back are lengthened sufficiently to permit of the introduction of an
additional plank on each side. The end boxes of the flume are flared,
to permit a free entrance and discharge of the water. An outer siding,
nailed to the posts, at the junction with a ditch, or wherever else a
bank of earth is passed through, protects the flume and also
strengthens it materially.
When
large amounts of lumber are to be used, it is occasionally economical
for a company to erect a portable saw-mill and cut out the lumber. In
most cases, however, it is cheaper to contract for the material
required.
All
lumber should be inspected and measured by a competent scaler, whose
duty it is to reject all knotty, sap, wind-shaken stuff, and slabs. As
only dimension stuff is used, everything should be prepared at the
mills of the exact sizes required, so that the flume can be constructed
as rapidly as the material is received.
The
material should be delivered at the head of the flume, or at such
convenient places as the engineer may direct. Lumber stored should be
carefully piled, and spaced so as to permit a free circulation of air
through the material.
Sufficient
water is generally obtained along the line of work, and is turned into
the flume as fast as constructed, to assist in the delivery of the
lumber which is floated. A few inches' depth of water is all that is
necessary. One or two or more men are required to attend to the
floating of the material, according to the distance.
As occasion may demand, the flume is trestled, the
