LOGGING METHODS 42 1 



COLORADO 



The portable mill operations in this state are taken as a 

 type of small operations in the National Forests. The mills 

 are often several miles from a small town at rather high eleva- 

 tions in the forests where the topography is rugged and the snow 

 is deep during the winter season. 



The stand is largely of small-sized timber, with logs averaging 

 from 10 to 12 inches in diameter at the small end, and from 

 three to four and one-half 16-foot logs per tree, when cut to a top 

 diameter of 6 inches. 



The closeness of utilization depends largely on the local mar- 

 kets, and the purpose for which the timber is used. On some 

 sales where waney-edge boards can be used for packing cases 

 and other rough work, very little waste occurs, while on other 

 sales where the demand is for lumber only, the mill waste is 

 heavy. 



The logging season depends on the climatic conditions and the 

 character of bottom. Felling and skidding usually begin some- 

 time between the middle of June and the first of August and 

 continue until the first or the middle of January when snow 

 becomes too deep for profitable work. Hauling on some opera- 

 tions begins at the time of felling, the logs being handled on 

 wagons, carts or go-devils up to the time snow falls, and after 

 that sleds are used until the end of March or the middle of 

 April. On other operations logs are hauled only in winter. 



Camps, which cost from $300 to $400 on operations of average 

 size, are of log or board construction and comprise a cook shanty, 

 a bunk house, a stable and possibly a few other buildings. Labor 

 is chiefly local. 



Felling and Log-making. — The methods employed are similar 

 to those of other regions, the ax being used to notch the timber 

 and the saw for felling. The work is done both by day labor 

 and by contract. 



The wage for sawyers is about $2.75 per day, while the contract 

 prices range from $1.25 to $2 per thousand feet, depending on 

 the size and character of the timber and the amount of swamping 



