DISTILLATION OF STUMPWOOD. 17 



from 24 to 36 inches with an average of 28 inches. The cost of 

 shooting the 30 stumps was as follows (spring, 1914) : 



Two men, 2\ days, at $2.50 a day of 10 hours $12. 50 



50 pounds of 20 per cent dynamite 7.50 



165 pounds of 40 per cent dynamite 28. 05 



Fuses and caps 2. 75 



Total 50. 80 



Splitting the 30 stumps so as to obtain from each a sufficient por- 

 tion for the sample required the work of 3 men for 3 days, which, 

 at $2.50 a 10-hour day, amounted to $22.50. The cost of gathering 

 and hauling the 3 cords of wood, requiring the services of 2 men and 

 a 2-horse team for three-fourths of a day at $7.50 a day, was $5.62. 

 If special stumping powder, selling for $12.50 a 100 pounds at that 

 time, had been used, the powder cost could perhaps have been reduced 

 by 20 per cent, or to $30 for the 30 stumps. The labor cost of plac- 

 ing the shot holes and shooting the stumps could probably be reduced 

 on a steady job. Against this it should be said that to have removed 

 all the stumps completely would have required the time of a man 

 and a team of horses for an additional day, as well as extra powder, 

 fuses, and caps. The labor cost of shooting the 30 stumps should 

 accordingly be left at $12.50. To have split the stumps completely 

 so as to recover all the heartwood and permit the handling of the 

 pieces by 2 men would have taken the 3 men 3 days more, making 

 the cost of splitting the 30 stumps $45. On a steady job with men 

 accustomed to the work, provided with tools or equipment that 

 experience would suggest, this item possibly could be reduced by 

 at least 50 per cent, or, in this case, to $22.50. On the basis of an 

 average of 50 per cent heartwood in the stumps, it is estimated that 

 at least 3 stumps are required to make a cord of wood, or about 10 

 cords from the 30 stumps. To gather up, haul, and load this on the 

 car would cost 10/3 times $5.62, or $18.73. Summing up on this 

 basis, the cost of these 10 cords of wood loaded on the car after a 

 1-mile haul is : 



Powder, fuse, and caps $30. 00 



Shooting 12. 50 



Splitting 22. 50 



Gathering and hauling 18. 73 



Total 83. 73 



Cost a cord ' . 8. 37 



Liberal allowances have been made in the items on which the cost 

 of this yellow-pine stumpwood depends, and the cost a cord is con- 

 fidently believed to be a minimum one. A material reduction of this 

 figure need be expected only from the use of hitherto undeveloped 

 60953°— 21 2 



