12 Forest Club Annual 



tion to the altitude of their situation. There are many ex- 

 ceptions to this general rule, since there are many markets in 

 mining camps which are located at high altitudes, nearer the 

 Engelmann Spruce and Lodgepole Pine. Leadville, Aspen, Red- 

 cliffe, Creede and Steamboat Springs all furnish markets at 

 high elevations. 



It is extremely difficult to quote an average cost for road 

 building. There is a great deal of timber so far from market 

 and in such rugged country that the cost of roads alone would 

 be more than the timber would be worth on the market. More 

 money of course can be spent on lumber roads when the lum- 

 ber can be hauled to the point of consumption without shipping. 

 This is done by small operators at towns located near a timber 

 supply, such as Steamboat Springs, Del Norte and Monte Vista. 



One dollar per thousand is a fair estimate of the average 

 cost of logging and lumber roads combined, and the cost will 

 vary from nothing to six dollars per thousand. Road building 

 is one of the biggest stumbling blocks to successful operating. 

 Many purchasers fail to make any profit or actually lose on their 

 investment on account of underestimating this item. 



SAWING. 



Aside from the general factors entering into the cost of 

 manufacture, there is little difference for the different species. 

 Western Yellow Pine can be sawed at a slightly lower cost 

 than the other species because feed is nearer, it has better cli- 

 matic conditions, the average log is larger, and market is nearer. 

 Engelmann Spruce could probably be sawed a little more cleaply 

 than Lodgepole Pine, because the logs are larger and there is 

 less dry rot. All things considered, there is little difference in 

 the four species. An average cost for all species for the State 

 would probably be $2.50 per thousand with prices varying from 

 $1.75 to $4.00. 



The cost of sawing will vary with the size and equipment 

 of the mill. There are very few mills sawing National Forest 

 lumber in the State with a capacity of over 10,000 feet per day 

 and a large percentage do not average over 5,000 feet. The 

 average mill with a capacity of 10,000 feet will probably saw 

 from 25 to 40 cents per thousand cheaper than one of 5,000 

 feet capacity for it does not require as much help per thousand 

 feet capacity; one sawyer, one ratchet-setter, and one engineer 

 are required in each mill. 



CURING AND PLANING. 



Only a small percentage of the native lumber sold in the 



