financed these operators to some extent, 

 it was a risky business, not only for the 

 operator but also for his employees. 



Coupled with an unsatisfactory mar- 

 keting situation were other factors 

 that held employment and wages to 

 a minimum. Laborers were classified 

 as independent contractors which 

 prevented them from receiving un- 

 employment compensation and Social 

 Security benefits. This reduced costs 

 to the timber operator. Also, 

 operators employed minimum- sized 

 crews to avoid State legal require- 

 ments for carrying Workmen's Com- 

 pensation. Work opportunities were 

 intermittent. 



Local people rarely were interested 

 in employment as wages were not 

 attractive and the timing of timber 

 sales did not fit part-time farming 

 or other work opportunities. 



Because of the low wages, inter- 

 mittent character of the work, and 

 other factors, the transient workers 

 employed in the harvesting operations 

 often were more of a burden on the 

 community than an asset. Sickness 

 or other difficulties frequently resulted 

 in costs to local governments for 

 medical care or other services. 



Selling public and privately owned 

 timber, therefore, rather than helping 

 the community, tended to create rural 

 slums and community problems. 



The U. S. Forest Ranger on the 

 Tawas District discussed this situation 



