68 BULLETIK" 440, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGEICULTUEE. 



of the logging operations, and both are governed by the investment 

 in transportation facilities. The sawmills in operation vary in size 

 from small portable rotary mills to large double-band mills with gang 

 saws. In the description which follows, the various types of com- 

 mercial sawmills are taken up in order, the smallest first. The im- 

 provements, equipment, sawing, and approximate cost of sawmilling 

 are outMned for each. The descriptions of equipment and operation 

 are given in greatest detail for large mills. All figures regarding 

 outputs and costs are based on mill tally instead of log scale. 



SMALL CIRCULAR MILLS. 



Practically all the small mills supplying local trade, including the 

 few water-power mills, are circular mills. There are no sash saws 

 used so far as is known. Some of these small mills have an output 

 as low as 10,000 feet board measure daily. The standard output for 

 mills operating for a steady local demand or entering outside markets 

 in a small way is from 20,000 to 25,000 daily. 



These mills may either have a log landing or a small pond. Usu- 

 ally a chute and cable are employed for hauling the logs into the mill. 

 Inside the mill the logs are turned on the deck and carriage by an 

 overhead cable turner. The carriage is hand set and has either a 

 rack and pinion or a cable drive. The saws are inserted tooth circu- 

 lar, there being a lower and an overhead saw on account of the large 

 size of the logs. A series of dead roUs extends from the saw frame to 

 the rear of the mill. Generally a small circular gang edger, with three 

 saws, is located to the rear of the main saw. Two cut-off saws for 

 trimming are located along the series of roUs. Some miUs may have 

 a hght two-saw adjustable trimmer. 



The power plant commonly consists of one engine of from 65 to 75 

 horsepower and a single boiler of about the same capacity. The mill 

 is ordinarily inclosed in a frame building with a board roof. The 

 building need have but one story. The engine and boiler are usually 

 placed together in a lean-to adjoining the main building. The cost 

 of such a plant complete, without yard and pond, is ordinarily about 

 $9,000 or $10,000. In most cases, though, the latter figure will in- 

 clude the yard, pond, and other improvements. 



The mill crew consists of the following men : One man on log hoist, 

 1 dogger, 1 setter, 1 sawyer, 1 ofiT^earer, 1 edgerman, 2 cut-off men, 

 1 slabman, 1 sawdust man, 1 engineer, 1 foreman, and 1 night watch. 



The daily labor cost for this crew is approximately $42.50. Pro- 

 rating this amount over a daily average of 24,000 gives a labor sawing 

 cost of $1.77 per 1,000. Since a considerable part of the upkeep of 

 the mill is included in the above daily wages, there is no very definite 

 information available relating to maintenance and supply charges. 



