Many early logging roads consisted of full sized logs 1/2 buried placed side by to create a rough surface over which felled timber could more easily be dragged by teams of oxen and horses - often referred to as "skid roads". One refinement of this practice was the use of "split plank" roads as shown in the photo that follows, likely taken in the late 1800's.
Photo courtesy Oregon Historical Society, 094561, n.d.
It's not clear why split plank roads would have been used. Construction would seem harder and more time consuming than conventional whole-log practice. Conserving timber used for road building? It does serve as an interesting reminder of just how difficult our early loggers had it getting logs out of the woods.
Perhaps split planks with a flat bottom were more stable by better gripping the ground than whole logs which might be prone to roll?
Posted by: Bill Kombol | 01/27/2017 at 10:07 PM