710 JOURNAL OF FORESTRY 



edge without actual experience would require several years' time, care- 

 ful examination of many areas before and after logging, detailed 

 studies and analyses of different branches of logging operations, and 

 access to accurate records of costs. Some of the greatest engineers 

 this country has ever known — men who have contributed the most val- 

 uable and detailed information on the cost of construction and opera- 

 tion of railways — are men who never used a pick and shovel, never 

 drove a team to a scraper, or operated a steam shovel or locomotive. 



If any railway company in this country decided to extend their lines 

 in a certain locality they would not go to the foreman of a grading 

 crew or some one who had worked many years on actual grade con- 

 struction to get a reliable estimate on the cost of construction, but they 

 would employ a capable engineer who had specialized in that line of 

 work. 



The same thing is true in appraisal work. Men learn from experi- 

 ence how to do work, but unless they are interested in it they may 

 never know much about the costs. The most conspicuous progress that 

 has been made in the efficient utilization of labor did not result from 

 actual experience, but from careful detailed studies and a complete 

 analysis of all the factors which lead to an intelligent application of 

 effort. 



The average lumber jack knows very little about what different parts 

 of a logging operation actually cost, though he may be thoroughly 

 familiar by experience with every phase of the work. The sawyer in 

 a mill is of course best qualified to do that particular kind of work, but 

 the bookkeeper knows more about the costs of production per thou- 

 sand feet board measure, though he may not know anything about 

 sawing. 



This same line of reasoning could be extended through the operation. 

 The difference between the experienced and inexperienced man is that 

 the experienced man knows how to do the work, but may not know 

 what it costs ; the inexperienced man does not know how to do the 

 work, but may be thoroughly familiar with the costs. Experience 

 gives a man the advantage of knowing when work is efficiently done. 

 Numerous checks during the past few years, comparing the estimated 

 costs of logging and manufacturing operations, as reported by the 

 Service lumbermen and logging engineers, with the final results, have 

 convinced practically all of the skeptics that the methods employed by 

 the Forest Service and the results obtained in the way of logging costs 

 and stumpage values are as nearly accurate and equitable as it is possi- 

 ble to secure with a small expenditure. 



