Figure 27. — Large sawmill plant located in eastern Oregon. 



ponderosa pine, and (3) concentration of manufac- 

 turing capacity in Klamath Fails and Bend. 



Logging 



Since logging is controlled by the manufacturer 

 and all the large concerns own their logging opera- 

 tions, there are no large-scale independent logging 

 operations that own timber and sell their output 

 cither on contract to manufacturers or in an open 

 market. A few large manufacturers contract part 

 of their logging, but in these cases they usually 

 own the timber. A few small manufacturers 

 obtain all or most of their sawlogs through con- 

 tract logging of their own timber or through pur- 

 chase from small independent logging operators. 

 Or a single phase of the logging operation may be 

 commonly contracted, such as felling and bucking. 

 Logging is seasonal on nearly all operations, 

 although the shut-down period on account of cli- 

 matic conditions seldom exceeds 2 or 3 months. 



Geographic, silvicultural, and economic condi- 

 tions are particularly favorable to partial cutting 

 in the ponderosa pine forests, and nearly all 

 operations, even those on private lands exclusively, 



leave some trees standing after logging. In some 

 cases the first cut is so heavy as to approximate 

 clear cutting and in other instances the residual 

 stand is practically worthless. Constant improve- 

 ment is evident, however, and better methods of 

 management are becoming the rule. 



Logs have been almost universally ground skid- 

 ded, until recently with horses, chains, tongs, 

 carts, wagons, or big wheels. The earliest use of 

 tractors for logging was in ponderosa pine forests, 

 and tractors are now in common use, chiefly with 

 an arch and cable; big wheels have just about 

 passed out of use. Horses are still used in some 

 operations for bunching logs at a landing and with 

 the cross haul for loading trucks and even in some 

 cases railroad cars. Loading, on the large opera- 

 tions using railroads for transportation, is done 

 with power loaders or "jammers" (fig. 28). Flex- 

 ibility in selection of logging equipment has been 

 facilitated by the easy topography and open type 

 of forest. 



The light stands of the ponderosa pine forests 

 necessitate that large mills have extensive tributary 

 territory and exceptionally long rail hauls. In 

 spite of this apparently adverse factor a number of 



61 



4fi21 10" — 42 5 



