42 



MISC. ITBLICATIOX 11, U. S. DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE 



for till' various site classes Is: Site I, over 175 feet; Site II, 125 to 175 feet; 

 Site ill. miller lli5 feet. 

 The area luis been divided into site classes, as follows: 



Rate of growth. — In the virgin stand growth is practically at a standstill. 

 The cruise shows that 2\<> per cent of the timber is dead. The annual loss 

 would, therefore, probably offset any increase in growth which the stand might 

 make. 



Growth data taken on eul-over areas slutw that in .Site II, witii a reserve stand 

 averaj^ing clo.se to 5.000 board feet, the mean annual growth is about 200 board 

 feet per acre. 



On Site III, with a resei*ve stand of about 1,500 board feet, the rate of 

 growth is about 30 board feet per acre per year. 



ECONOMIC SITUATION 



PRESENT AND FUTURE MAUKtTTa 



Di.sposal of the lumber from this area is deiiendent upnn the general market. 

 At the present time the upper grades of pine and Douglas lir go to the eastern 

 market. The lower grades, particularly box lumber, are taken by the Cali- 

 fornia market. IMarkets will probably be much the same in tlie future as at 

 pre.sent, the East taking the better grades, and the steadily growing box 

 industry of California the lower grades. 



LABOR SUPPLY 



Floating labor must be depended upon to furnish the greater part of the labor 

 supply for this area. Because of climatic conditions winter work is imprac- 

 ticable; so tiiere is no incentive for labor to become established. The present 

 operation employs from 150 to 175 men. Less than 20 per cent of these are 

 local residents. 



rOPULATION ANn LOCAL NEEDS 



The jxipulation adjacent to and within this working circle is very small 

 Agriculture and dairying on a small scale are the principal occupations. The 

 uncut and cut-over timbered land will furnisii a plentiful supply of wood for 

 fuel ; so it is not necessary to lay off local-use areas. 



TRANSPOUTATION 



An aerial tramway 5.1 miles in length coiniects this an-a with the Western 

 Pacilic Railroad at (Jrays Flat. Direct rail connections would have to be m.ide 

 by way of Quincy with the Quincy Hailroad. This would necessitate the 

 building of about S miles of railroad, partly on a canyon slope where construc- 

 tion would be exiKMisive. 



TKESENT MILLS 



The i)rescnt mills consist of one single band mill of (;5.{)00 board fiet daily 

 capacitj', locatcnl at Spanish Ilanch, and one circular mill of about 30.000 board 

 fe*'t daily caiiacity, located on Slate Creek. Both mills are owned by the 

 SiKinish Peak Luml)er Co., but only the band mill is operated at present. 



