TIMBER ESTIMATING IN THE PACIFIC 



NORTHWEST 



BY H. J. BROWX 



TIMBER estimating varies from fundamentally the same, as they arc 



the rapid, inexpensive prelim- both based on the counting of trees 



inary to the detailed, elaborate, Some prefer the circle method, as they 



costly method of the total tree can count the trees with more accuracy 



count. In making a preliminary, one while standing on one spot than while 



may run once through a 40 by either moving and counting them in a strip. 



estimating the trees in a given strip or This, however, is largely a matter of 



by generally sizing up the timber. In training. The strip method is the only 



making a total tree count it is necessary one used when making an entire tree 



to run through a 40 8 or 12 times, count. The difference in the method 



counting the trees on each side of the of estimating lies in counting the con- 



compass line for a sufficient distance to trast and then multiplying by an aver- 



cover the entire area. age tree in contrast to estimating each 



In the wide range from the one-ruu tree and adding for the total. 

 preliminary to the total tree count with To obtain the amount in individual 



its 8 or 12 times through a 40, there trees is also largely a matter of per- 



are any number of systems, limited sonal choice. There are two general 



only by the ingenuity of the estimator, systems : 



so that when one reads of a new sys-- (1) Certain "rules of thumb" de- 



tem having been developed it is not to veloped by the individual cruiser and 



be taken too seriously. which have been found to produce sat- 



The first estimating on the Pacific isfactory results. 



Coast was done on a basis of one run (2) The use of the volume table 



through a 40, but as the timber in- which is based on an ideal tree, thereby 



creased in value more care was taken making it necessary to have the trees 



with the estimating until now the basis conform to the volume table and not 



is a 2, 4 or 8 times run through a 40, the volume table to the tree. This table 



at a cost of from 12 cents to $1.00 per is based on diameters running from K' 



acre. to 90 inches, or higher, carrying a dif- 



The most frequent systems used are : ferent number of logs and a varying 



(1) Counting the trees either in taper for each diameter class. In 

 strips or in circles and obtaining the other words, adding the contents of the 

 total by multiplying the average tree scale of the individual logs to get the 

 by the number of trees. contents of the tree. 



(2) Counting the trees either in _<, . 

 strips or in circles and treating each 



, ,, , , 4 logs or 3 logs or 



tree as .a unit to obtain the totals. iss foot tree 96 foot tree 



Tal'ino- n trpp Vipr<* onrl fhorp n c Taper Contents Taper Contents 



idKing a iree nere ana mere as 32' log B. M. log B. M 



a base and by much criss-crossing of Eutt ' 4784 3" 3960 



the_ area between the compass lines Diameter 4 " ^ 10 4" 3^458 

 seeing the entire acreage. This plan is gg y 3316 5" 2994 



subject to a great many variations and g 2*722 6" ' 568 



is used mostly by men of long expe- 



rience in the woods. It is considered To use this table one must measure- 



by many largely a matter of intuition, down trees for taper and length and 



Nevertheless, its accuracy at times is use the volume table accordingly. 



almost startling. diameter of standing trees can be deter- 



The strip and circle methods are mined by the use of a diameter tape 



69 



