108 BULLETIN 711, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



cost is higher where practicallj^ all chokers are made from new rope 

 than where one-half or more of the chokers are made from old main 

 yarding lines. Taking it straight through the region, the cost per 

 thousand feet for chokers used in connection with ground yarding 

 probably ranges from $0.03 to $0.05, the cost in hard chances run- 

 ning a little higher. The cost of tag and yarding lines, straps, etc., 

 amounts to about $0.01 per thousand feet. Loading lines are dis- 

 cussed under " Loading." 



The cost of rigging, including chokers, tag lines, yarding lines, 

 etc., and not including the main loading line, at one camp amounted 

 to $0,064 per thousand feet. It would seem that the cost should 

 never be higher than this. The country was mountainous and badly 

 broken up, the slopes for the most part being steep. Logs were 

 moved both up and downhill. The yarding engines were powerful 

 and output was not sacrificed to reduce the wear and tear on equip- 

 ment. The logs averaged about 1,850 feet in volume. Most of the 

 rigging was made from new wire rope. The cost of rigging, in- 

 cluding chokers, tag lines, crotch lines, etc., and not including the 

 main loading lines, at another camp amounted to $0,044 per thou- 

 sand feet. The country was not particularly rough or badly broken 

 up. The logs averaged about TOO feet in volume, one, two, three, 

 or four logs being brought in at a trip, depending on conditions. 

 The yarding engines were powerful and driven at high speed, most 

 stress being laid on output. The rigging for the most part was made 

 from new rope. At another camp the cost of rigging, including 

 chokers, tag, yarding, and crotch lines, etc., and not including main 

 loading lines, amounted to $0,057 per thousand feet. The country 

 was practically level. Never less than two logs were yarded at a 

 trip, sometimes three, four, or five. The logs averaged about 700 

 feet in volume. The yarding engines were driven at high speed. 



Blocks, hooks, and rollers. — Very few operators keep account of 

 the replacement and maintenance cost of blocks, hooks, and rollers. 

 It does not, however, amount to much, ranging from $0.02 to $0.03 

 per thousand feet, including labor, repair parts, and materials. 



At one camp the replacement and maintenance cost of blocks, hooks, 

 and rollers used in yarding and loading amounted to $0,024 per 

 thousand feet. The country was mountainous and badly broken up, 

 the slopes for the most part being steep. Logs were moved both up- 

 hill and downhill. About one-third of the timber was double hauled. 

 The logs, which averaged about 1,900 feet in volume, were yarded an 

 average maximum distance of about 900 feet. 



Fibel. — Most operators use wood for fuel in ground yarding en- 

 gines; a considerable number, fuel oil; and a very limited number, 

 coal. The use of wood is about the same in other methods of yard- 

 ing and in swinging and roading. 



