Cost of Logging Large and Small Timber 447 



Each operation, however, shows the same rapid increase in cost of 

 skidding logs smaller than 14 inches. The average of the data 

 shows that under conditions where it costs less than $1 to skid 

 timber when the diameter of the average log is 20 inches, the costs 

 are doubled when the size of the log is 14 inches, and trebled when 

 it is 10 inches. In skidding, it is customary to handle small logs 

 in connection with logs of larger size, when it is possible to do so. 

 When there are only a few small logs, such as are obtained from 

 the tops of medium sized trees, they are handled practically at 

 minimum cost by attaching them to trails of larger logs. However, 

 when small trees constitute such a large part of the stand that they 

 form a large proportion of the trails, or when they cannot be skidded 

 entirely in connection with trails of larger logs and it becomes 

 necessary to handle them in separate trails, there is a decided 

 increase in the cost of skidding the smaller timber. In securing 

 data on the relative cost of skidding large and small timber, it was 

 necessary to consider the trails as they were actually made up and 

 to obtain the average size of the logs in each trail. Most of the 

 small-log trails contained at least one medium or large-sized log 

 and the trails of large logs usually contained at least one small log. 

 In stands which contain so large a proportion of small timber that 

 it would be necessary to skid most of the small timber in trails 

 without large logs, the relative cost of handling the small timber 

 would be higher than is shown for any operation in the data 

 presented. The data were obtained by timing individual teams, 

 measuring the contents of each trail, and obtaining the size of the 

 average log in each trail. The work of individual teams handling 

 the same class of timber (heavy or light) and skidding on the same 

 character of surface was then combined. The cost of skidding is 

 most affected by loading teams below or beyond capacity. The 

 absolute cost varies even for logs of the same size in different 

 operations and camps according to the character of the surface and 

 efficiency of the operation. Skidding with an overhead skidder is 

 not comparable with team skidding. It shows, however, that the 

 time required for handling 1 ,000 feet in logs which average 8 inches 

 in diameter is practically three times that for handling 1,000 feet 

 in logs averaging 24 inches in diameter. 



The following table shows in detail the spruce skidding figures. 

 The logs were handled in bundles, the number of logs in each 

 bundle averaging as shown. Actual length of logs varied from 8 

 to 24 feet. Actual skidding distance was 2,200 feet. 



