LAND VALUES 145 



and is limited in extent. In fact this is much like a second growth 

 woodlot region in size of the timber and extent of the stands. 



The logging methods are different, however. While the mills 

 are small they are permanent and draw their lumber from a con- 

 siderable area by driving the streams. This means summer 

 operation at the mill but the woods work may well be carried on 

 during the winter. The snow is not heavy enough to interfere. 

 ' It is merely sufl&dent to make skidding to the stream bank easy; 

 consequently the modus operandi is similar to that on small jobs 

 in the northeastern United States. The trees are feUed and 

 bucked early in the fall and then the logs are skidded to the 

 water's edge when the snow comes. There they stay until the 

 spring break up carries them to the mill. 



On account of the high cost of supplies and consequent high 

 wages logging costs are much above ordinary standards. Kel- 

 logg reports that in 1909 the Fairbanks mills were paying $20 per 

 .M for ordinary spruce logs and $25 for extra long ones. Most 

 of this charge represents logging costs because the Land Office 

 was only charging a stumpage price of $1 per M for timber on 

 Government land. There is, therefore, ,some compensation to 

 the mill operator in the sale values of lumber. Again quoting 

 Kellogg "common lumber brings about $35 per M at Fairbanks; 

 boat lumber, which is of extra length and must be entirely sound, 

 $80 a thousand. ' ' Allowing $6 per M for milling and yard charges 

 there is a probable margin of $5 to $10 per M for profit. Ex- 

 pressed on an acreage basis, the net yield per acre would not 

 ordinarily exceed $150 for lumber. To this might in some cases 

 be added $20 for cordwood, but usually cordwood cutting is a 

 separate operation. Birch and spruce bring the best prices, $10 

 a cord in Fairbanks in 1909 and $6 to $8 on the river bank. The 

 usual price for cutting was $4 at that time so that there is a mar- 

 gin of about $4 for profit, the stumpage charge of 25 cents being 

 negligible. Hence a good stand of cordwood averaging 10 cords 

 per acre would yield a net return of $40. 



Land Values. — When land is not mineral bearing there is a 

 limited range of possible uses in Alaska. Tillage in the south- 

 western part is greatly restricted by the small demands of the 



