COMFORTABLE CAMPS AS A MEANS OF INCREASING 

 THE EFFICIENCY OF WOODS LABOR. 



By S. B. Detwiler. 



Any reduction in the cost of lumber production tends 

 to hasten the appHcation of better methods of forest management. 

 Improvement in machinery has progressed much more rapidly 

 than increased efficiency in hand labor. Sixty to eighty per cent, 

 of the cost of lumber is money paid for manual labor according 

 to Captain J. B. White, of Missouri. At the mill there is a better 

 opportunity to apply labor saving methods than in the woods and 

 the larger mills, at least, are fairly well organized, yet much 

 remains still to be done. One of the largest mills in Minnesota 

 was recently rearranged, and as a result the cost was reduced 

 from $3.80 to $i.go per M. An Arkansas firm is said to save 

 $1.50 per M. by an improved system of transportation and piling 

 in the yard ; five men do the work which formerly required 

 thirteen. 



In the woods the logging boss reigns supreme and resents any 

 innovation as a reflection on his ability or as a useless fad. He 

 depends on close supervision and the loyalty of his men to keep 

 down costs. High wages, increased cost of supplies and a poorer 

 class of men are causing lumbermen to turn their attention to a 

 more systematic management of the woods work. One firm 

 investigated the loss from poorly laid out ice roads and engaged 

 an engineer to locate the roads at all their camps, with very satis- 

 factory results. A Michigan operator is using an efficient cost- 

 keeping system which shows the work performed by the various 

 crews, and the total cost of each operation. In Wisconsin, a 

 camp with accommodations for men and horses has been built on 

 car trucks, in order that the men might save time in going to their 

 work. Piece labor is advocated by some as a method of cheapen- 

 ing woods operations, and in many cases, undoubtedly, it will 

 prove practical, especially where only one class of material is 

 gotten out, such as ties, cordwood or pulpwood. 



Any method which conserves the energy of the men and 

 systematically organizes their work, is of value, but no system 



