FACTORS [NFLUENCING LOGGING AND LUMBERING 

 COSTS IN COLORADO NATIONAL FORESTS. 



By F. W. Morrell. 



INTRODUCTION. 



In a discussion of the cost of lumber manufacture in any 

 mountain region, even though it be a small area that is con- 

 sidered, prices will differ much, because of widely differing 

 conditions in accessibility and labor. There is also a great 

 variation due to the kind and quality of machinery and other 

 equipment, and what might be termed the "personal element", 

 or business ability of men engaged in the industry. Briefly 

 stated, the principal factors affecting the cost, manufacture and 

 marketing of lumber are as follows : 



1. Accessibility. 



(a) Distance of timber from railroad. 



(b) Topography of country on which timber grows. 



(c) Topography of country over which roads must be built 

 to get timber to the railroad. 



(d) Distance of loading point from market for lumber. 



(e) Freight rates. 



2. Labor. 



(a) Cost of labor. 



(b) Quality and supply of labor. 



3. Equipment. 



(a) Mills, wagons, sleds, etc. 



(b) Horses. 



(c) Supplies cost of food and feed. 



(d) Accessibility to base of supplies. 



4. The personal element; the ability of operators to con- 



duct a lumber business differs very widely, and the 

 profits of different men operating under the same con- 

 ditions are found to vary greatly. 



5. The climate conditions; especially the amount of snow 



fall, upon which depends the possibility of operating 

 throughout the winter months. 



FACTORS GOVERNING STUM PAGE PRICES. 



The usual steps in the process of manufacture, upon the 

 basis of which stumpage prices are in part regulated on the 

 National Forests are as follows : 



