FOREST LABOR 49 



Inland Empire and on the Pacific Coast is generally by the day 

 or month, with or without a charge for board. Day labor pre- 

 dominates on the Pacific Coast, while in the other sections a 

 monthly wage is more common. When employed on the latter 

 basis, workmen may or may not be charged with lost time due 

 to bad weather or to sickness. 



Contract labor is preferable where labor is inefficient and 

 liability laws are unfavorable to the employer. This method 

 is common in the southern yellow pine, cypress and the Appa- 

 lachian regions. The system is extended in some regions to 

 cover the entire field of mill-stocking, although it is usually 

 applied to felling and log-making, skidding, hauling and railroad 

 grade construction. The last is almost invariably a single con- 

 tract, but the others may be handled together. For instance, 

 one contractor may agree to deliver the logs along the railroad. 



The common basis of payment for contract logging work is 

 by the thousand feet, log scale. When this method is not used, 

 felling and log-making are paid for by the log, tree, number of 

 saw-cuts made or by the "task." The latter is really on a day 

 wage basis, because the workmen receive a stated sum per day, 

 provided they cut a given number of logs, or a certain number of 

 feet, log scale. The task is common in the Carolinas and in some 

 portions of Arkansas. 



Some lumbermen furnish the contractors with tools and 

 supplies. This may cover only felling and log-making, or it may 

 be extended to include the skidding and hauling equipment, 

 either power or animal, and the railroad or other means used in 

 transporting the logs to the mill. Such an arrangement materi- 

 ally affects the contract price. 



Small contracts are usually verbal but large ones are generally 

 in writing. About 10 per cent of the contract price is usually 

 withheld until the work is satisfactorily completed. 



Many lumber companies operate commissaries or general 

 stores in connection with their logging and miUing work. Since 

 it is to their advantage to have the trade of their employees, cash 

 is paid only on specified pay days. Meanwhile, employees may 

 obtain metal trading checks or coupon books to the value of their 



