26 



MISC. PUBLICATION 11, U. S. DEPT. OF AGKICULTUEE 



10 inches d. b. h. and larger show the results on average acres, as determined 

 by two different studies: 



studies by 



Year 



Average 

 original 

 stand 1 



Amount 

 cut 



Per cent 



Amount 

 left 



Per cent 



Greeley and Granger .. ... 



1915 

 1922 



Ft.b.m. 

 5,600 

 5,623 



4,164 

 3,936 



74.5 

 70.0 



1,436 

 1,687 



25.5 



Johnson and Tinker... 



30.0 







1 Both these studies were made on areas where the average acre carries a larger volume than the average 

 for the Custer circle. The areas carry, also, more than the average number of intermediates. In each 

 case, however, an effort was made to pick areas that would give an average acre for the Black Hills 

 region. 



The growth in the virgin stands is practically nothing, decay in most cases 

 being equal to and frequently greater than increment. The increment in cut- 

 over stands amounts to 254 per cent in 35 years, according to predictions made 

 on the basis of growth studies by Forest Examiner F. R. Johnson. ( See Tables 

 2 and 4.) This is predicted on the assumption that growth continues at the 

 same rate during the last 15 years of the cutting cycle as it does during the 

 second 10-year period. 



ECONOMIC SITUATION 



ACCESSIBILITY 



The Black Hills branch of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad passes 

 through the circle from south to north. Fair to good roads radiate in all direc- 

 tions from Custer and Priugie. Secondary and woods roads make almost 

 every unit east of Pleasant Valley easily accessible. West of Pleasant Valley 

 there are fewer roads, and on the average they are in poorer condition. 

 Logging-road construction in the main draws is not difficult, as a rule. Feeder 

 roads in the side draws usually involve heavier construction, with consdierable 

 rock work, especially west of Pleasant Valley. 



PRESENT AND FUTURE MARKETS 



The towns of Custer and Pringle and the numerous ranches scattered through- 

 out the circle offer a local market for a limited quantity of the lumber produced. 

 The Burlington Railroad is now (1923) the largest individual purchaser of the 

 timber products of the circle. This company buys railroad ties, coal and grain 

 doors, and some bridge and structural timbers. The Warren-Lamb Lumber Co., 

 of Rapid City, buys logs, mill-run lumber, and slab wood. In addition there 

 is a more or less uncertain market for mine ties, mine timbers, fence posts, lath, 

 and shingles. Fuel wood is always in some demand. The market for lath 

 and shingles can be developed into a very good business if properly handled. 



The sustained annual yield as fixed in this plan is more than sufficient to 

 care for all present local demands. Should mining again become an active 

 business there will be a marked increase in the local demand for all kinds of 

 lumber and timbers. The allowable cut would still be more than sufficient for 

 local needs, however. The surplus will in the future be used to meet the 

 increasing demand from the prairie regions surrounding the Black Hills. 



The future will also bring an increasing demand for box lumber. This will 

 be supplied from any surplus remaining after the above-mentioned demands 

 have been cared for. The surplus will undoubtedly be too small to supply the 

 railroad demand. This will force the Burlington to turn to the lodgepole? 

 forests in the Big Honis for the products it needs, especially ties. Such a 

 move will be very desirable from a Forest Service standpoint. 



POPULATION AND LABOR SUPPLY 



East of Pleasant Valley the circle is well populated, principally by small 

 ranchers and stock growers. Stock raising is the principal occupation in the 

 west part. Land suitable for farming is not so abundant there, and ranches 

 are consequently fewer and more widely separated. 



