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MARTIN: |
Gordon, may I record our conversation? |
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GORDON: |
I
don't mind. |
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MARTIN: |
What do you call your work? What do you do? |
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GORDON: |
I'm
a log cutter. |
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MARTIN: |
What does that mean exactly? This is a tree, not a log. |
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GORDON: |
It
will be logs when I finish. First I cut the tree down. Then I cut it
into several logs. |
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MARTIN: |
How
many logs? |
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GORDON: |
This tree will make three logs. |
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MARTIN: |
Then what happens? |
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GORDON: |
I
go to the next tree. |
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MARTIN: |
What happens to the logs? |
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GORDON: |
Someone comes with a tractor and pulls them to another place.
They're measured. |
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MARTIN: |
Why
are they measured? |
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GORDON: |
Everyone is paid according to the measurement of the logs. The
measurements are recorded in a book by someone. Do you see that man
over there? That's what he's doing. He's measuring the logs. Then he
marks the logs. |
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MARTIN: |
What happens to the logs next? |
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GORDON: |
They're put on trucks, and then they go to the sawmill. |
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MARTIN: |
OK.
You go to the next tree. Then what? |
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GORDON: |
I
cut that tree. It falls down. |
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MARTIN: |
How
do you know where it's going to fall? |
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GORDON: |
Usually it goes where I want it to go. |
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MARTIN: |
How
do you make it go there? |
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GORDON: |
Look. First I cut here just a little. Then I cut here. I take that
piece out of the tree. Then I cut all the way through the tree, and
it usually falls that way. |
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MARTIN: |
I
see. You want it to fall that way because it won't hurt the other
trees. |
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GORDON: |
That's right. There is an open place there. Also the tractor can
come in here. |
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MARTIN: |
How
many trees can you cut in one day? |
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GORDON: |
That depends. Some trees are easier and some places are easier.
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MARTIN: |
Explain that. |
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GORDON: |
The
trees in this woods are tall and straight. The branches are mostly
near the top of the trees. That makes it easy. It's easier to trim
the branches and cut the tree into logs. |
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MARTIN: |
How
do you trim the branches? |
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GORDON: |
With my power saw. I do everything with the saw. I cut the tree
down. I trim it. I cut it into logs. |
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MARTIN: |
What happens to the branches that you trim? |
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GORDON: |
Nothing. They stay here. |
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MARTIN: |
Will you cut all the trees in this woods? |
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GORDON: |
No,
no. We don't cut timber that way. We just cut the big trees. The old
trees were cut in this woods about fifty years ago. Now it has some
large trees again. We leave the small trees to grow. Often they're
cut in another twenty, or thirty, or forty years. |
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MARTIN: |
What kind of trees are you cutting? |
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GORDON: |
These trees are mostly oak. |
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MARTIN: |
What happens to the wood from these trees? |
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GORDON: |
Sometimes the wood is used locally. Often it goes all over the
world. Oak is usually used for furniture and for floors. |
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MARTIN: |
May
I watch you cut down this tree? |
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GORDON: |
Sure. Stand behind me. I'll tell you when to move. |
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MARTIN: |
That was perfect. It fell exactly where you wanted it. |
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GORDON: |
It
often does. It's not difficult. Do you want to try it? |
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MARTIN: |
May
I watch some more first? |
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