IQO TIMBER VALUATION 



no other method can compete. Unfortunately, however, driving 

 cannot be employed everywhere. It is first of all necessary that 

 the timber to be taken out will float readily. This most hard- 

 woods will not do and even some softwoods need special treat- 

 ment. Then, too, many sections of the United States do not 

 have suitable climatic conditions. The rainfall is either inade- 

 quate or improperly distributed. Consequently, this cheap and 

 effective method is frequently impossible. 



Under such circumstances railroad logging offers the most 

 . effective substitute. In the redwoods the cost per M has usually 

 been estimated as five cents per mile. Naturally such a cheap 

 method is the first choice with all kinds of hardwood and where 

 the cHmate and topography are unfavorable to driving. But the 

 initial investment per mile is always heavy and is not justified 

 unless the stands are heavy per acre or the railroad can ultimately 

 be converted into a common carrier. As a result there are many 

 woods operations where the use of railroads is out of the question. 

 These fall into four main groups: 



1 . Operations where sleds can be used 



2. Operations where wagons must be used. 



3. Operations where chutes must be used. 



4. Operations where flumes are most economical. 



Snow is the best road material in the world and where several 

 months of good sledding are assured that is by all odds the best 

 method to employ. Thirty-five cents per M and mile have been 

 attained in many cases. Like driving, sledding has evolved from 

 simple beginnings to elaborate processes for icing and keeping 

 clean the roadbed. There are, however, many sections of the 

 country where the snowfall is not great enough to permit of the 

 use of sleds. Wagons are then the only recourse. The motive 

 power may be either oxen, mules, horses or tractors and the 

 wagons either low wheeled or high. But whatever the appli- 

 ances used this is a relatively expensive method. Seldom can 

 it be done for less than $1 per M per mile. The remaining two 

 methods, chutes and flumes, are special ones only applicable in 

 special cases. Chutes are often the only recourse in steep, rocky 

 country while flumes require a large supply of water. No general 



