A STUDY OF BREAKAGE, DEFECT AND WASTE 

 IN DOUGLAS FIR. 



E. J. HANZLIK, '12 AND F. S. PULLER 



Forest Examiners. 



Supplemented by Report on "Douglas Fir Breakage" 

 E. C. ERICKSON, Lumberman. 



PRIMARILY for the use of timber survey parties in the Douglas fir 

 region a short study was made in the spring of 1916 to secure data 

 upon breakage, defect, and waste in logging Douglas fir timber. This 

 study was carried on at the camp of the Snow Creek Logging Com- 

 pany, logging their own timber on Section 29, T. 29 N., R. 2 W., a 

 patented section within the Olympic National Forest. 



There is appended to this report data obtained by Lumberman E. C. 

 Erickson in 1915 on breakage in Douglas fir timber for three typical log- 

 ging camps in the Cascade Mountains in Washington. The original data 

 has been rearranged and grouped according to diameters and diameter 

 classes for a closer analysis. It will be noted that the results of Mr. Erick- 

 son's study show a considerably higher percentage of breakage and waste 

 than that obtained in the course of this study. 



Character of Timber. 



The timber consisted principally of a mature stand of Douglas fir with 

 a slight addition of red cedar and western hemlock. The trees were from 

 200 to 300 years of age, with occasional trees over 500 years old. The 

 stand ran probably about 60,000 to 70, 000 'feet per acre, of which about 

 85 to 90 per cent was, Douglas fir. The trees varied in diameter from 

 20 inches to 75 inches, with the average about 50 inches at breast height, 

 while the heights ranged from about 150 feet to 230 feet, with an average 

 of about 195 feet. 



The timber would be classed as normally sound Douglas fir. There 

 were only a very few conky trees, although a considerable number were 

 swell-butted and had ground rot. No dead Douglas fir was encountered 

 in the course of this study. 



Topography. 



The area has an elevation of about 1,000 feet above sea level, with 

 a gentle slope of from 50 to 10 per cent and a southern exposure. There 

 are no "pot-holes" or abrupt changes to break the general character of the 

 slope. The topography may be classed as such that would cause the least 

 amount of damage to timber in the process of felling. 



Utilization. 



The utilization of the timber at this camp may be considered exception- 

 ally good, since practically all sound logs not too limby were taken to a top 

 diameter as low as 10 and 12 inches. Practically everything merchantable 

 was taken from the woods and only a small number of logs which might 

 have been classed as merchantable were left, these usually being covered 

 with large knots which made their utilization doubtful at this period. Such 

 logs were classed as "waste" and were not included as "breakage." This 

 waste was very small, being less than one per cent for the trees measured. 

 It was readily seen that only a small percentage of the trees below 16 

 inches to 20 inches in diameter was available for use, since in the large 

 trees, especially where the stand is dense, it is almost impossible to save 

 the top logs from breaking. 



In felling the trees, the fallers used considerable care in placing them 

 where the breakage would be the least. The trees broken in felling were 



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