986 JOURNAL OF FORKSTUV 



establisliment of the more valuable Douglas fir, the protection of which 

 would be well-nigh impossible was it not for this. 



The greatest source of danger from fire on the Siuslaw Forest lays 

 in its escaping from slashings of homesteaders scattered throughout 

 the Forest. This danger would be greatly increased were it not that the 

 larger per cent of these homesteads are located within the alder growth. 



The efficacy of the alder as a fire protection was proven during the 

 season of 1910, when disastrous fires swept the Mt. Hebo region. At 

 this time there were hundreds of acres of valuable reproduction saved 

 from destruction by the surrounding alder growth. This is especially 

 notable, as that season was an exceptionally dry one. 



4. Its Commercial Value 



For years the red alder has been a source of fuel to the Oregon 

 coast. This use is increasing rapidly as the supply of sound fire-killed 

 Douglas fir diminishes. At the present day there are thousands of 

 cords used in this manner. Many cases have been noted where for- 

 merly the settlers burned their alder slashings ; at the present time they 

 are cutting it into cordwood and selling it on the open market for from 

 $2.50 to $3 per cord for four-foot wood and from $3.50 to $4.50 per 

 cord for 16-inch wood. 



An average stand of 30 to 40 year old alder will yield from 30 to 35 

 cords of four-foot wood per acre, or 35 to 40 cords of 16-inch wood. 

 The higher yield in the latter case is due to closer utilization. In saw- 

 logs an average stand will yield about 7,000 feet, board measure, per 

 acre, though it will vary from 5,000 to 15,000 feet, board measure, per 

 acre. 



Until recently the alder was considered useless for saw timber. Dur- 

 ing the past year approximately 1,500,000 feet, board measure, have 

 been used in the manufacture of furniture. Several drives of logs 

 have been sent to the Portland mills from the Kalama River. These 

 logs bring about $1 1 per thousand at the mills. 



The only data that could be secured relative to logging and milling 

 costs were obtained from a small mill operating near Westlake, Oregon. 

 This region is topographically typical of the alder areas on the coast. 

 Here the logging is done by hand and with horses. The logging cost 

 varies from $3.50 to $4.50 per thousand and the milling from $3 to $5 

 per thousand. The logs are cut principally into one-inch boards any 

 width, although there is a demand for about one-fourth of the cut in 

 i^ and 2 inch stock. Logs should be cut from 12 feet to not over 18 

 feet in length to get the best results in sawing by reason that the longer 

 timbers will pull away at the ends, there being much spring in it. 



