TIMBER VALUES 91 



in a general way that from 7500 to 17,500 board feet — 1500 to 

 3500 cubic feet — has been grown under natural conditions in 

 100 years. Protection and thinning should, of course, greatly 

 increase these yields. 



Timber Values. — The cost of estimating stands of yellow pine 

 should be relatively low because the topography is not rough, the 

 stands are of a uniform density and size, and the Government 

 section — a square mile — is the standard unit of subdivision. 

 Hence, the cost per acre for an estimate which shows the amount 

 and quahty of the timber, the topography and the cost of logging 

 should not exceed 5 cents for a 10 per cent estimate. The 

 only feature that is liable to increase this cost is the presence of 

 box canyons which must be crossed. This is always time con- 

 suming and sometimes dangerous. 



A 10 per cent estimate is usually intensive enough because of 

 the uniformity in the stands and the present relatively low value 

 of the timber. 



The smallest merchantable tree at the present time is one with 

 a top diameter of 10 inches while logs can seldom be run higher 

 than to a diameter of six inches in the tops. 



The average stumpage value of western yellow pine according 

 to the 1 2th Census was slightly over $1 per M. This was 20 

 years ago and prices have of course risen in the meantime but the 

 fact remains that this tree does not yield a large per cent of high 

 grade finishing lumber. It is mostly used for framing and rough 

 construction so that while it is- true that about 1 5 per cent of it 

 on the average brought $30 to $40 f.o.b. the mill in 1916, the 

 mill run sold for not more than $20 per M. Only rarely can 

 the slabs, edgings and tops be disposed of to advantage for cord- 

 wood. The average grades, the per cent of each and the price 

 they bring at mill are given in the table shown on p. 92, com- 

 piled from data in Hunger's" Western Yellow Pine in Oregon," 

 Bulletin 418, Department of Agriculture. 



The possibility of using this species for turpentine deserves 

 mention at least. It was so used in California during the Civil 

 War when the southeastern supply was cut off and can be utilized 

 again but so far it has not been possible to compete with the 



