SCIENTIFIC MANAGEMENT AND THE LUMBER INDUSTRY 727 



amount. A daily waste of 500 feet log scale per saw crew due to carelessness 

 has been observed on yellow pine operations in the South. 



The loss to the stumpage owner is greater than first appears, because it 

 is not only the stumpage value that is sacrificed, but the sale value of the 

 product on the car. It requires but little more effort to bring in a log 16' long 

 than it does one 14' long; the cost of skidding, loading, and transportation to 

 the mill, are increased to only a very limited extent, and on reaching the 

 plant the added cost of manufacture is nearly nil. Therefore you lose the 

 value of this product on the car, because it costs you practically no more to 

 place it on board ready for shipment than it does to leave it in the forest to 

 rot. Close supervision of the saw crews will remedy this matter at a cost 

 which will be a fraction of the loss you otherwise suffer. 



There is a wide variation in the rations given to logging animals, and it 

 is certain that they are not always fed economically. The requirements of 

 animals for food are dependent on weight and the amount of work being per- 

 formed. Each animal requires a certain amount of concentrated food from 

 which it derives the major part of its nurishment and a certain quantity 

 of coarse food which gives bulk to the ration. 



There are several essential elements in the concentrated foods which are 

 required in fairly constant quantities for a given weight of animal, when 

 performing a specific kind of work. Different feed stuffs contain these ele- 

 ments in widely varying proportions, and the test of a balanced ration is the 

 ability of an animal to maintain an even weight under the conditions in which 

 it is working. 



Every logger should adopt a standard ration for his animals based on 

 tests made under working conditions. The general requirements of animals 

 have been studied extensively both in this country and abroad and data on 

 the subject can be secured from the U. S. Dept. of Agriculture. 



Many business men spend much time on the preparation of statements 

 showing the cost of production. These are of value as a guide for comparison 

 of actual costs, but do not show whether the average is greater than it should 

 be. 



A close study of the various parts of the operation and the preparation of 

 a statement from the data secured, offers a means of comparison of actual 

 and standard costs, and will point out the weak points in the present system. 

 It enables the management to pick out the departments in which the expendi- 

 tures are excessive, and to make such changes as are necessary to remedy th6 

 faults. 



Estimated costs exert a beneficial influence over foremen ^nd other 

 subordinates, because when the actual outlay exceeds the estimate made by 

 them at the beginning of the season their reputation is at stake. The incentive 

 is present for them to attempt to keep expenses dowm. Where there is no check 

 of this character, it is easy for the foreman to say that high costs are due 



