FUEL WOOD 345 



The converting factor of 90 cu. ft. per standard cord is generally 

 adopted in those regions where fuel wood is commonly cut. 



The converting factor of 500 bd.-ft. per standard cord is also gener- 

 ally accepted, although this factor depends upon a number of conditions. 



Ten per cent of the volume is generally allowed for shrinkage from the 

 green to the dry condition of the sticks. According to Zon, green hard- 

 wood in seasoning shrinks from 9 to 14 per cent, depending upon the 

 species while softwoods shrink only 9 to 10 per cent. 1 



CUTTING, HAULING AND DELIVERING TO MARKET 



The following description and costs are given for the full standard 

 cord of 128 cu. ft. capacity. Many other forms of stacked cordwood 

 or units are commonly used in different parts of the country. For 

 example, in portions of the Lake States and Far West, a long cord of 

 1 60 cu. ft. capacity is sometimes used. In other places the short cord is 

 used or a face cord made up of a stack of wood 8 ft. long, 4 ft. high but 

 instead of 4 ft. in length the sticks are 12, 16, 18, 24, 30, 37, 50, 56 in., 

 etc., in length. These various face cords are used for special kinds of 

 fuel wood and for marketing in small lots. 



The work of cutting, hauling, etc., is usually done by common 

 labor, the men using the single-bitted splitting axe, cross-cut saw, wedges 

 and on large operations, a double-bitted axe as well. Where consider- 

 able fuel wood is cut the men usually work by contract, doing the cutting 

 and hauling for a given amount per cord. 



Stumpage values vary considerably with the different regions. The 

 price runs from about 25 cents to $1.00 or more per cord. This value 

 depends upon the species, local demand, cost of cutting and hauling and 

 placing on the market, etc. In the Northeast stumpage values of 

 50 cents to $1.00 per cord are common. In the South 25 cents per cord 

 is an average price. In the Far West from 25 to 50 cents per cord is 

 the usual prevailing stumpage value. 



The operations of cutting and stacking fuel wood in cord lots are 

 generally done together and they usually cost from 90 cents to $1.45 per 

 standard cord. Many contracts in favorably sized and located timber 

 regions have been made for cutting and stacking for $1.00 to $1.10 per 

 cord. Foreign laborers, skilled in this work, have been known to make 

 from $3.00 to $5.00 per day at these prices. The cost usually depends 

 upon the kind and condition of wood, its size, local charges for labor, 

 location of timber and general working conditions. 



1 See " Untersuchungen iiber den Festgehalt," by Franz Baur. 



