rate of 41 cents, and the average hourly scale grades 

 upv/ard according to size to 73 cents for those concerns 

 pri.iiicing 10 million board feet or more. This is probably 

 a combination ot better pay for comparable jobs and a 

 greater proportion ot more highly skilled positions in the 

 larger mills. At any rate it is a strong talking point for 

 the medium- or large-size mill. Other arguments tor 

 larger mills are that they do superior processing on the 

 average, have better distributing facilities, and are more 

 stable. There is no basis for setting an arbitrary point 

 and claiming that mills above this size are desirable and 

 those below not, for the reason that this comparison is 

 built on averages. A tew small sawmills, tor example. 



pay wages comparing favorably with the average of larger 

 plants. There are certain advantages to small mills. For 

 example, the small mill is more adaptable to conditions 

 where the timber is small and scattered. .^Iso some of 

 the present taults ot these mills can be remedied. 



Much investigation will be necessary before the question 

 of size can be answered with any degree of finality. Cer- 

 tainly because ot the relatively small sustainable output, 

 there is an upper limit in size. Improvement of the less 

 satisfactory milling practices and wage standards in the 

 small plants is possible, .'^t present, however, it would 

 appear desirable to tavor in general the mills producing 

 at least 5 million board teet annually. 



56 



