Other constructions also occur in the floating-ways, such as fascine-coffers,
canals dug in the ground, etc. The most important means for clearing or
regulating the floating-ways is, however, by the blasting of rocks, and their
subsequent removal from the bed.
The work of floating commences simultaneously with the breaking
up of the ice in spring. On the smaller floating-ways, especially, 'it
is important to make good use of time; in certain cases, one day’s
delay may be the cause of part of the logs remaining unfloated till the
next year. The same result may ernsue if the number of workmen (or
drivers) is insufficient. The timber may be floated separately or united
in rafts; the latter method of floating being especially used when the
stream is not very rapid. I f the timber is laid up on the ice in some
lake or marsh, it is enclosed by booms of heavy logs, chained together,
so as to form a ring-boom or “halter”, frequently enclosing several
thousand logs. This ring-boom is either towed by a steam-tug or else
warped along by means of a capstan placed on a raft especially built
for the purpose.
When the timber has entered the floating-way, it is necessary to keep; it
clear of the land by means of boat-hooks (driving poles), to increase its speed
in certain eases, and to prevent, as much as possible, the forming of “jambs”,
or blocking. Wherever such jambing occurs, the logs must be loosened, which,
may be not only a difficult task, but a dangerous one, too. I f it is possible
to find the log which has caused the jamb, it is sufficient to chop it off, after
which the heaped timber comes adrift again of itself and disperses; otherwise
the logs have to be hauled out of the jamb one by one. However, it is now
rare that fatal accidents occur at this work. On all floating-ways a large
number of hands are stationed at the upper part of the way to break loose; the
logs which, in floating, have got lodged or fastened along the bank (bank-
jambs). When this work has been carried down as far as to the sorting-
booms, the general floating is finished for the year. In most water-courses
there is now time for the logs to reach the saw-mills during the course of
the first summer after they are felled, while, formerly, before the floating-
ways were regulated, it was usual for the logs to be two or even three summers
on their way through the water-courses. The loss of timber in floating
does not even amount to one per cent, in some Norrland rivers.
Usually the floating-way is divided into ^sections, and the cost is calculated
separately for each section. The floating in the upper sections is relatively more
expensive than in the lower ones.
A fairly good idea can be gained of the importance of the timber float-
ing-network of Sweden, when we learn that the total length of these floating
ways is estimated at about 29 000 kilometers. Some 23 000 kilometers
of this belong to the general floating-ways, and about 6 000 kilometers
to the private ones. The floating-ways are of greatest importance in
Northern Sweden, where, in Norrland alone, they amount to more than
23 000 kilometers, while in Dalarne they come to about 3 000 kilometers.
The expense of establishing these floating-ways can be estimated as
having been abo.ut 60 million kronor. This sum does not include workingexpenses
and up-keep, the cost of which is an annual charge on the timber
floated. In consequence of its cheapness, floating becomes a very important
factor in the timber trade. It is true that the cost of floating varies very
greatly in different floating-ways, and also in consequence of various
circumstances,' such as the supply of water, the amount of timber floated,
etc. For the larger floating-ways, however, the expenses are estimated
as varying between 3 and 14 ore per new Swedish mile (six English
miles), per cubic meter timber, fast measure. In the case of smaller
floating-ways the corresponding expenses can be many times larger. The
■expenses quoted for the large floating-ways are considerably lower than
the freight-charges for the transport of round timber by rail. The freight
charges per whole railway-truck, per cubic meter of timber, per new
Swedish mile (10 km),-amount to:
17 ore for a distance amounting to 15 new Swedish miles
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The exceptional condition prevails with regard to the floating-ways
that the average expense of the floating of timber per length-unit of
floating-way,' when the timber is transported through two or more separate
districts, becomes proportionally larger the greater the distance
the timber is floated; as a rule, it costs more in the upper reaches of the
floating-ways than in the lower districts..
There exist no uniform reports respecting the amount of the timber
which is floated down. As a rule, the timber thus floated is reckoned
by the piece; varying in proportion to the cubic mass, whether it
be sawn timber or other timber reduced to floating-units (Sw. klam-
par) which vary according to the floating-ways. In the case of most
■of the floating-ways, these floating-units do not correspond to a fixed
cubic mass, but, during the last few years, the. expenses of floating
have begun to be calculated per cubic-unit of the timber. By
tins means it will gradually become possible to obtain, among other
things, fairly satisfactory statistics respecting the amount of timber
handled. — During the first few years of the present century, some 40
million pieces of timber were floated every year in Norrland, Dalarne, and
farmland together. The corresponding figure for 1912 is estimated
■at about 90 millions. During the last few decades, the dimensions of
the timber floated have been on the decrease,, this being the result, in
the first place, of the increased floating of pulpwood and pit-props.
For particulars concerning water-courses etc., see the article on Hydrograhpy,
P. I, 20.
Sawing and Export.
When the floated timber has reached the saw-mill, it must first pass the
sorting-booms, where it is sorted according to size (into deal-logs, batten-logs,
«to.). By means of a windlass or capstan, the logs are now hauled up a sloping
I t—133179. Sweden Jl.