16 BULLETIN" 272, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



Cost per 1,000 

 Logging — Continued. board feet. 



Railroading $2. 10 to $3. 10 



Depreciation and overhead charge .70 1. 00 



5. 50 8. 00 



Milling: 



Sawing 1. 95 to 3. 00 



Yarding 1. 85 2. 50 



Depreciation and overhead charge .95 1. 50 



4. 75 7. 00 



Total 10. 25 to 15. 00 



The lesser figure for total cost will appear low for smaller opera- 

 tions in scattered cypress along the Atlantic coast, where complete 

 manufacture costs from $13 to $16. In the large tracts of the Mis- 

 sissippi delta, with heavy yields per acre on relatively stable soils 

 and large-scale operations, the cost averages from $9 to $13 per 

 thousand. Logging is more expensive than milling by from $1 to $3, 

 and mi ll i n g averages from $5 to $7 per thousand feet, because of the 

 large amount of defective or pecky material, close utilization, and 

 small sizes run through the mill. In Louisiana, where the larger 

 companies pay for practically every operation of manufacture by 

 the thousand feet, lumber is produced at the lowest average cost. 



GRADES. 



Cypress is manufactured and handled in the trade under detailed 

 and very satisfactory inspection rules. The grading rules adopted 

 by the Southern Cypress Manufacturers' Association, 1 composed of 

 about 50 producing companies, are in most general use. Their seven 

 major grades and great number of finish grades are well defined and 

 allow of a marked uniformity. Odd as well as even lengths above 4 

 feet have been for some years standard, with certain limitations as to 

 the proportional amount of odd lengths. The major grades are tank 

 stock, first and second clear, selects, shop (two grades), selected com- 

 mon tank stock, barn or dimension (two grades), cull or peck. The 

 National Hardwood Lumber Association and the Hardwood Manu- 

 facturers' Association both use the rules of the Southern Cypress 

 Manufacturers' Association. 



At the saw there has been a gradual decline in the average quality 

 of the lumber, due chiefly to logging in situations less favorable for 

 growth, in tracts formerly culled of the best trees, and closer utiliza- 

 tion. Records kept continuously for the past 5 or 10 years show a 

 marked decline in the percentage of clears and selects, and corre- 

 sponding increases in shop, and especially common. 



i Mr. George E. Watson, Secretary, Hibernia Bank Building, New Orleans, La. 



