The art of log construction is relatively simple, once a fewbasic principles are understood. The pioneers who openedthe lands beyond the eastern seaboard did not have boardswith which to build such shelter as they needed. Logs wereso plentiful in the forested area of our country that, withtheir resourceful ingenuity, the settlers built their homesin conformity with those principles of log construction whichprevailed in the countries from which they migrated. Thoseprinciples have remained the same down through the years.

The pioneer had but an ax for a tool and consequentlymade only those articles which could be hewed out of wood.Today there are many tools available, and to do a first classjob of log construction one must know how to handle thedouble-bitted or single-bitted ax, the broadax, saw, adz,chisel, slick, ship auger, and drawknife. In this bulletinit is assumed that the reader is familiar with the ordinaryframe building methods used where wood is the principalconstruction material.

Washington, D. C. Issued September 1945