130 BULLETIN 111^ U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGEICULTUEE. 



E quipment. — The kind, size, length, and selling price of the lines, 

 also the fixed investment in the lines, are discussed under " Cost." 



The number and type of blocks used with this system is indicated 

 in Figures 37, 38, and 39. A complete set of these blocks f. o. b. 

 Portland or Seattle costs from $1,500 to $2,000 and weighs from 

 18,000 to 22,000 pounds. 



The iygQ of carriage used is shown in Figure 40. These carriages 

 f. o. b. Portland or Seattle cost from $400 to $500 and weigh from 

 1,000 to 1,200 pounds. 



Output. — In general, the output with this system ranges from 

 60,000 to 100,000 feet per day. For short periods it may be greater 

 or less than this. One skidder, where the maximum yarding distance 

 was 1,000 feet, 3^arded 1,000,000 feet in five days. On steep mountain 

 sides, where the yarding distance ranges from 2,000 to 2,500 feet, the 

 output may range from 50,000 to 75,000 feet. 



The average output per skidder per skidding day, on the basis of 

 a month's time, in a camp where five skidders were used, was 80,000 

 feet. The largest output of any of these skidders in a day during 

 this period was 182,000 feet. In this camp, during the same month, 

 four ground yarding engines were operated, the average output per 

 engine per yarding day amounting to 40,000 feet. The maximum 

 yarding distance in the case of the skidders was 1,200 feet; in the 

 case of the ground yarding engines, 700 feet. The logs yarded with 

 both systems averaged about 800 feet in volume. Another operator, 

 working a skidder and a ground yarding engine in chances of the 

 same character, was getting about 75,000 feet per day with the 

 skidder and about 40,000 feet with the ground engine. The timber 

 was small, second growth, and the ground practically level. Still 

 another operator was getting an output of about 90,000 feet per day 

 with a skidder. The maximum yarding distance was 1,200 feet, the 

 ground was practically level, and the logs averaged about 1,000 feet 

 in volume. One operator who used the overhead skidder discussed 

 the output as follows : 



As to the output, we are not in a position to say what the system will do 

 in a good chance. We have used it in very rough, steep ground and in small 

 timber. From Slay 1 to May 1 we worked 227^ days, being shut down during 

 the month of July and having the usual Christmas shut dovra, and put in 

 9,164,000 feet, or a daily average of a little over 40,000 feet. This is not a large 

 average, but, owing to the conditions, think it is better than we could have 

 done with the ground yarding system. Our largest day was 84,000 feet and our 

 best monthly average was 53,000 feet per day. In these averages the time 

 consumed in moving has been counted in as working days. 



Cost. — Nothing further than a general discussion of the elements 

 of cost will be attempted. The factor of output, which has already 

 been referred to, is of major importance. "While the size of the crew 



