248 LOGGING 



floating and rafting. The only region in which their use is not 

 extensive is in the New England States where water transporta- 

 tion has been the custom for years, due chiefly to the fact that 

 many of the merchantable species will float, that the region is 

 traversed by numerous streams and that trunk lines do not 

 penetrate the forest regions to any extent. 



Advantages of Railroad Transportation 



(i) Accessibility. Railroads have made large areas of timber 

 accessible which otherwise could not be logged because of the 

 lack of streams for floating logs, or the absence of suitable manu- 

 facturing sites and shipping facilities on the natural water 

 outlets. 



(2) Independence of climatic conditions. Rail transport ren- 

 ders a logger practically free from climatic influences since he 

 is not dependent on a snowfall to furnish a bottom for hauling, 

 or on flood waters to float his logs. This enables him to operate 

 throughout the year, with possible short interruptions due to 

 heavy rainfall or snowfall. 



(3) Market conditions. The use of railroad transport does 

 not force the manufacturer to anticipate market conditions 

 months in advance, because logs can be cut and hauled to the mill 

 on short notice and special requirements for long timbers or for 

 a heav}- cut can be readily met. The plant can be closed during 

 dull market periods without carrying on hand a large quantity of 

 logs in the forest, subject to damage from fire, insects, and sap- 

 stain. The operator can turn over his money at frequent 

 intervals and need not invest a large sum in advance in logging 

 expenses. 



(4) Utilization of hardwoods. The logger is able to bring 

 out all species. This reduces logging expense, because of the 

 heavier stand per acre secured. 



(5) No loss of logs in transport. 



(6) Clean logs. Rail transport lands the logs at their desti- 

 nation free from gravel, sand, iron and other foreign matter. A 

 hardwood manufacturer operating on one of the large rivers esti- 

 mates that clean logs can be manufactured 1 5 cents per thousand 



