Close Utilization of Timber 



27 



lumber yield was 60 per cent less, so that it would require fifteen 

 times longer to cut a given amount of lumber from logs of this 

 character than it would from sound straight ones. The loss in 

 wages of the mill crew alone was greatly in excess of the value 

 of the lumber secured from this particular log. 



Although this is an extreme case, losses occur every time crooked 

 or forked logs are handled. The cut of a single band mill may 

 easily be reduced from 25 to 50 logs daily when many crooked and 

 forked ones are handled, which means a reduction in output of 

 from 3,000 to 6,000 board feet. 



FIG 3. FORKED TREES IMPROPERLY PREPARED. 



Further illustrations of logs actually observed on the skidways, 

 in the woods, and on the decks of sawmills are given in Fig 3. 

 These logs are not only difficult to handle, but in "A" one end 

 is worthless and should have been left in the woods. It would 

 have been far easier to handle log "B" had the lower fork been 

 cut as shown by the dotted line. 



TRIMMING LENGTH OF LOGS 



Out of 1,000 logs measured on the skidways of a yellow pine 

 operation, only 426 had the right trimming length, that is, from 

 3 to 4 inches. Of the remainder, 141 logs had a trimming length 

 of less than 2 inches; 100 logs, 2 inches; and 333 logs, 5 to 15 



