;)1U JOURNAL OF FORlvSTRV 



merchantable stand is reserved from cutting under Forest Service regu- 

 lations, the extra costs on account of construction are therefore about 

 Ti/Y^ cents per thousand feet. 



EXTRA CARE IN LOGGING 



The felHng requirements of the Forest Service were thought severe 

 by some himbermen among the early purchasers of National Forest 

 stumpage. Tlie chief objections were to the low stumps, to the care in 

 protection of unmarked timber and reproduction, and the increase in 

 cost of limbing and bucking occasioned by the more complete utiliza- 

 tion of tops. The effect of these requirements is rather difficult to de- 

 termine on account of the ever-changing standards along these lines 

 among the lumbermen themselves. For instance, some of the more 

 progressive outfits are cutting lower stumps now than is required by 

 the Forest Service. In like manner they are utilizing much farther into 

 the tops than was the practice a few years ago. The fact is that the 

 lumber companies have improved very markedly in their utilization 

 standards, while the Forest Service has maintained about the same posi- 

 tion all along. One of the chief reasons why the progressive steps have 

 been taken by the lumbermen is because it pays to do so, and will con- 

 tinue to pay more as the value of stumpage increases. The extra effort 

 made to protect standing timber and groups of reproduction in the 

 felling operation is undoubtedly an extra cost on which the lumbermen 

 do not figure any compensating returns on account of a possible poten- 

 tial value of the young growth. 



During the season of 191 7 the writer carried out a partial study on 

 felling operations in a typical pine-logging job which was being con- 

 ducted under Forest Service timber-sale regulations. Time studies 

 were made on 75 trees, averaging about 41 inches d. b. h. It was found 

 that about 4 per cent of the time was spent in wedging and an addi- 

 tional 4 per cent of the time in planning on the direction in which to 

 fall the tree. It is estimated that about half as much time would have 

 been spent in wedging and planning if the work had been conducted 

 under private cutting methods. With falling costs at $0.25 per thou- 

 sand feet, it can be seen that the extra care in avoiding standing trees 

 and groups of reproduction amounts to an insignificant quantity — about 

 $0.01 in the above example. 



The extra time consumed in yarding timber under Forest Service 

 requirements consists in delays on account of avoiding reproduction, 

 unmarked trees, in protecting unmarked trees that the line is fastened 



