TIMBER VALUES 97 



Timber Values. — The roughness of the topography is the only- 

 factor that makes estimating in the lodgepole pine type expensive. 

 The stands are uniform in size and density and the section cor- 

 ners are easy to find. Therefore, a cost of five cents per acre for 

 a 10 per cent estimate is representative of average conditions. 



Lodgepole pine is not quoted separately in the census figures 

 because it is only of importance locally, but the stumpage price for 

 any particular tract can be figured by deducting the cost of log- 

 ging and milhng from the sale value of the finished product. On 

 account of its small size — very few trees attain a diameter breast- 

 high of more than 14 inches — relatively little lodgepole pine is 

 sawn. Most of it is used in the round as mining timbers, fencing 

 or hewn railroad ties. Moreover, the little that does go thru the 

 sawmill makes narrow, low grade lumber which sells for less than 

 $30 per M at the mill. The market for slabs and edgings is neg- 

 lible and the tops are so small that little cordwood can be cut 

 from them, so that no return can be expected except that to be 

 obtained from the main bote. 



Since a tie operation is more typical than a lumbering job 

 figures mil be given for the former in order to show what the cost 

 of getting lodgepole timber in shape for market is under normal 

 conditions. 



Per tie 



Felling, hacking and peeling 15 cents 



Hauling four miles to railway 15 " 



Total cost 30 " 



Value at railway 40 " 



Margin for stumpage and profit. 10 " 



To convert this margin per tie to the basis of M feet it is neces- 

 sary to multiply by 30 since the average tie contains 33^ board 

 feet. Hence the margin per M is $3.33. Actual stumpage prices 

 range from $1 to $5 per M with an average of not more than $3. 

 Even this is relatively high for such small sized lumber but lodge- 

 pole pine occurs in a region where large timber is scarce and the 

 settlers are glad to get almost anything in the way of wood. 



In man hours and horse hours the average costs per M will be as 

 follows: 



