EXPLOITATION OF CROSSTIES IN NORTHERN 

 NEW MEXICO.* 



By Clarence F. Korstian. 



The following data on the various operations in the exploita- 

 tion of crossties is based on the methods employed by a company 

 which has been operating for the past six years in Northern 

 New Mexico. The area which is now being exploited lies on the 

 west slope of the Sangre de Christo Range, at elevations of 8,ocxD 

 to 11,000 feet above sea level. The lower slopes of these moun- 

 tains merge into rolling hills and gently sloping mesas. The up- 

 per portion of this area is quite rugged, consisting of deep can- 

 yons which have steep slopes. Mostly the timber is found on 

 the mesas, slopes and ridges. The soil is usually of sufficient 

 depth to cover the underlying rock so that it does not interfere 

 with logging to any great extent. 



Heivn Ties — Woods to River. 



The following species suitable for hewn ties are found in this 

 locality: Western Yellow pine (Pinus ponderosa), Douglas fir 

 (Pseudotsuga taxifolia), White fir {Abies concolor), Engle- 

 mann spruce (Picea engelmanni), Alpine fir (Abies lasiocarpa), 

 and Limber pine {Pinus flexiUs). Western yellow pine, Douglas 

 fir, and white fir are the most important species on the area now 

 being cut. 



The following defects were found common to Western Yellow 

 pine: stump and heart rot, cat-faces, mistletoe and injury caused 

 by the pine bark-beetle. The cat-faces were caused by fires, oc- 

 curring from 25 to as much as 100 years ago, and by removal 

 of the inner bark for food by Indians, a custom which has been 

 discontinued but which seems to have been prevalent 25 to 50 

 years ago. Trees having stump rot and cat-faces require long- 

 butting which not only increases the waste but results in a lower 

 grade of ties. Mistletoe and the bark-beetle cause the trees to 



* The writer is indebted to Assistant Forest Ranger Wayne Russel 

 for assistance in collecting the data contained in this article. 



