Forest Roads and Trails 93 



This table shows the average crew to be from 3 to 4 men. 

 The average amount of time to build one mile of trail is 7.88 

 eight-hour days for one man. The average cost is $16.66 per 

 mile. 



Plumas National Forest, California. 



On the North Fork Trail, 3 miles in length, 75 per cent 

 was through granite cliffs, causing heavy rock work. The 

 trail had a 3 foot tread and a 10 per cent grade. 



Itemized cost, per mile : 



Labor, 6 men at $2.50 per day $230.00 



Hauling material 3.67 



Explosives 46.05 



Tools 5.18 



Coal 1.05 



Total per mile $285.93 



This was considered a very expensive trail. 



The Merrimac and Robinson trail was built through fairly 

 easy country where very little rock work was required. The 

 maximum grade was 18 per cent, the tread 2 1 /& to 3 feet wide, 

 cleared space 8 feet wide. The cost was $83.00 per mile which 

 is considered a good average for the Sierras. 



Talioe National Forest, California. 



A trail from Westville down the north fork of the Amer- 

 ican river, had first a drop of 2,000 feet and then a rise of 

 about 1,950 feet. Its total length was 8.2 miles. The first 

 part of the trail was built through brushy and steep country 

 and in the latter part considerable rock work was necessary. 

 The experiment of plowing the trail with two horses and a 

 sidehill plow was tried, but was not successful on account of 

 the many roots encountered. One bridge was put in at a cost 

 of $337.50. The tread of the trail was 3 feet wide, average 

 grade 10 per cent and maximum 15 per cent. A crew of 5 men 

 was used. The average cost of powder and fuse per mile 

 was $2.75. 



