222 REPORT OF THE 



hold of valuable timber lands, and of late there have been large investments 

 in forest lands in the Adirondacks. 



Township 40 is so favorably located for lumbering cheaply that the 

 State would be justified in expecting the highest stumpage prices that are 

 being paid locally at the time it is lumbered. 



It was at first intended to furnish a complete list of railroad transpor- 

 tation rates to different markets in connection with the probable cost of 

 lumbering each compartment in the township separately, this cost having a 

 direct bearing upon the stumpage prices which could be expected. But it 

 was found impossible to get satisfactory rates on something that might 

 or might not be done in the future. As prices are constantly fluctuat- 

 ing, and as conditions which exist at present might be fadically changed 

 before it was decided to cut the timber on the tract, it was deemed better 

 simply to quote the prices that could reasonably be' expected for the stump- 

 age at the present time. 



The price of Spruce stumpage at present ranges from 40 to 55 cents 

 per 19-inch standard, and shovild include the Balsam at the rate of 15 per 

 cent of the Spruce. Letters received from many pulp manufacturers show 

 that Balsam can be used in this ratio with satisfactory results. Balsam has 

 long been included with Spruce stumpage under the same price, as should 

 be done on this tract, cutting to the limits advised. In disposing of stump- 

 age it is the usual custom to sell Spruce, Pine, and Balsam combined 

 (sometimes including Hemlock and Cedar), these being the soft timbers 

 which are commonly lumbered together in the Adirondacks. Pine stump- 

 age is the most valuable and Balsam the least so, with Spruce between them. 

 If there were an equal amount of each on the tract it would be fair to 

 include them both with Spruce and let the Spruce price govern the whole. 

 There is practically no market for Balsam unless sold with Spruce. 



If the stumpage of Spruce, Balsam, and Pine were sold together on 

 Compartment No. I at the present, it would probably bring 60 cents per 

 19-inch standard, as there is nothing to prevent this timber from being 

 driven direct to markets downstream, and the stands of Pine and Balsam 

 of the diameter limits advised for cutting are about equal on this compart- 

 ment. (See Table No. 24.) There is a good log road already constructed 

 from the point at which Brandreth Lake Outlet enters Township 40 down 

 to Forked Lake. (See Map III.) This would add to the value of the 

 stumpage by lessening the cost of the lumbering. It is quite likely that 

 the State would be able to obtain 55 cents per standard for all the Spruce, 



