142 ALASKA 



Yield varies with the kind of timber which in turn depends upon 

 the soil conditions as has already been shown, consequently the 

 heaviest stands are those of pure or mixed white spruce in the 

 bottoms. Ten thousand board feet per acre is not uncommon 

 but the average is more nearly half that. The slope and ridge 

 stands yield much less per acre. Twenty cords per acre is high 

 for the former while much of the latter growth is too small to be 

 merchantable. 



Fire is the principal cause of damage. It is especially destruc- 

 tive after lumbering and many thousands of acres have been 

 seriously if not permanently damaged in this way. In a region 

 where tree growth has so much to struggle against fire may be the 

 deciding factor in preventing the return and spread of a forest 

 cover. No serious insect or fungus diseases have been reported. 



Timber Valuation. — Since climatic and market conditions are 

 so radically different for the different parts of Alaska it will be 

 necessary to consider timber estimating, logging costs, sale and 

 stumpage values separately for the coast and interior forests. 



An estimating crew in the coast forests outfits in one of the sea- 

 board towns like Seattle, Sitka or Juneau and goes by boat to the 

 tract to be looked over. An outfit of several units or one with a 

 large amount of work ahead should by all means have its own 

 vessel. Then the men can live aboard and be more comfortable 

 than they would ashore. A power craft varying in size with the 

 number in the crew makes an ideal boat for this purpose. 



Arrived at their destination a base Une should be laid out along 

 the beach. Then the strips may be run into the timber. Only 

 a small percentage, relatively, need be estimated because the 

 composition is usually uniform. But the actual running is dif-- 

 ferent because of the rough topography, heavy undergrowth and 

 uneven surface. The slopes from sea level are always abrupt and 

 covered with rocks and boulders which have rolled down from 

 above. While the undergrowth is dense it seldom covers up 

 completely the holes between the boulders but merely serves to 

 conceal them. Furthermore, it is generally so wet from fog or 

 rain that the estimating crew is thoroly drenched before going 

 100 yards from the beach. These things do not make for rapid 



