LUMBERING IN PINE EEGION OF CALIFORNIA. 81 



Wherever conditions are favorable, it is customary to locate the 

 drying and shipping yard at the sawmill because of greater economy. 

 However, this is often impossible. There are two general types of 

 yards. In one, the lumber is distributed on elevated platforms; in 

 the other, tracks are built at ground level. 



Yards at small circular mills usually have a single track extending 

 straight out from the mill with pile bottoms on either side. Under 

 most conditions the necessary length is about 600 feet, and about 

 50 pile bottoms are required. The track may be either on the ground 

 or on a platform raised about 10 or 12 feet. The slope should be 

 away from the mill. Ordinarily, low four-wheeled cars are used. 

 The cost of such a yard, exclusive of the site, is estimated to be from 

 $600 to S800 for a ground track and from $1,000 to $1,200 for a 

 raised platform. The larger circular mills require more yard room. 

 This is usually seciu-ed by constructing two or more parallel tracks 

 or platforms with piles on either side. Some operators haul the 

 lumber out with carts and have only dirt or plank roads between the 

 piles. Although the amount of yard stock at different mills varies 

 with market and other conditions, the yard at a large single circular 

 mill must ordinarily provide room for from 2| to 3 million feet of 

 lumber. This requires from 150 to 160 pile bottoms and 2,000 feet 

 of trams. Accordingly, the yard cost is from $2,000 to $3,300, the 

 latter for elevated trams. 



Single-band mills have the same general layout of yards except 

 that more space is required. A single-band mill operating one shift 

 daily, normally requires maximum yard room for the storage of 

 about 5 or 6 million feet of lumber. Thus from 200 to 250 pile 

 bottoms and about 3,000 feet of trams are necessary. The average 

 cost is placed at from $3,800 to $5,000. From one-half to three- 

 fourths of a mile of loading spur will also be required at a cost of 

 from $2,400 to $3,600. 



There are three kinds of yards used for double-band mills in this 

 region. The most common is the type with raised trams or plat- 

 forms. These platforms are constructed in parallel series tlu*ough 

 the yard, generally at right angles to the mill. A similar platform 

 connects the various branches to the upper floor of the mill. The 

 platforms are constructed at a hciglit of from to 16 feet above the 

 ground, the normal height being about 12 feet. The floor is 12 feet 

 wide and is built of 2-inch planks. The trams arc supported by 3 by 8 

 inch stringf!rs and 4 by 6 inch nprighls resting on 6 by 6 incli sills. 

 About 4,000 feet of lumber is used to build each 100 feet of length. 



The cost of such platforms may bo computed on the basis of a cost 

 of $18 per 1,000 for (he lumber used in constrMiction. Tf cars are to 

 be used for distributing lumber, 16-pound rails must bo laid on tho 

 r.7172°— Bull. 440—17 6 



