FIELD APPRAISALS OF TIMBER STUMPAGE 217 



more seasons. The timber on such a unit normally comes out 

 over the same route a branch railroad spur or road. 



Of first importance in the examination is the necessity of 

 sizing up this local transportation problem, deciding upon the 

 best method of removing the timber, and estimating the diffi- 

 culties of construction and cost of overcoming them. The cost 

 is gauged, not on the basis of the total expense of construc- 

 tion, but with relation to the amount of timber reached ( 174). 

 In high and precipitous mountains it is necessary to decide 

 how far up the slope the operator can go without exceeding 

 the permissible cost of getting out his logs. 



This transportation cost is thus directly dependent upon 

 the estimate of the standing timber. The field examination 

 necessary to determine it is either a part of the work of timber 

 reconnaissance, or some additional work is done following the 

 completion of the cruise, to make sure of the salient points. 



214. Timber Reconnaissance : The Map. In the timber 

 examination the tract is ordinarily crossed and recrossed at 

 intervals of 40 rods or less, and the intimate and systematic 

 knowledge of the topography and surface thus gained permits 

 the formulation of the plan for logging. The main drainage 

 and its tributaries are located and the character of the slopes 

 and surface noted. 



This knowledge, when necessary, may be systematized in 

 the form of a topographic map which shows all features that 

 affect logging. If the topography is so level that transportation 

 presents no difficulties, such a map serves no useful purpose. 

 If the map does not indicate conditions with sufficient accuracy 

 and detail to enable the manager to plan the general location 

 of his transportation system, it fails of its purpose. Actual 

 lines of railroad or road must be located on the ground, but the 

 entire system can nearly always be roughly planned from a 

 good map. Since such a map can be made as a part of the work 

 of timber estimating, the expense is minimized and the effort 

 justified. Otherwise the information so vitally necessary to 

 the planning of transportation routes exists only in the mind 

 of the field examiner or in the form of incomplete notes. 



