126 REDWOOD TYPE 



much above the pre-war value because for the five years between 

 1916 and 1909 inclusive the average was $14.35 per M. This lat- 

 ter figure is naturally a safer one to use in determining the margin 

 available for stumpage than the abnormal value of 191 7. 



Logging and milling costs present no unusual features except 

 that the large size of the timber makes steam logging the most 

 economical. But this merely tends to reduce costs if handled 

 on a large enough scale. It is, of course, no business for a small 

 operator. The holdings must be large, the logs skidded by steam, 

 a railroad built to. haul the logs, and heavy sawmill machinery 

 employed. In 1900 Fisher found that costs were as follows: 



PerM 



Logging $3.00 to $5.50 



Milling 3 . 00 to 3 . 50 



Loading o. 25 to o. 50 



Freight to local towns in California 2 . 50 to 4 . 00 



Ofl&ce costs, etc 2 . 00 



$10.75 



Converted to labor hours per M these costs would be as follows: 



Man hours 

 ' plus 



4 fixed^lcharges 



Logging 7 



Milling. . r 7 



With a sale value of $11 to $13 per M for rough lumber and $18 

 to $25 for clear boards th^re was naturally Kttle margin for stump- 

 age. Even today redwood is worth less than $5 per M standing. 

 Land Values. — Fisher estimates that but two per cent of the 

 redwood type may be classified as " flat " so that the tillage pos- 

 sibilities are not great. At best it will only pay to faftn compar- 

 atively smaU areas. There is no chance for the development of 

 agricultural communities. Grazing is only feasible on the drier 

 ridges where the stands of redwood and its associated tree species 

 are open enough to permit grass and weed growth. Unquestion- 

 ably the highest use to which most of this type can be put is for 

 the production of timber. Except on the dry ridges reproduc- 

 tion is vigorous enough and growth sufficiently rapid to justify the 



