LUMBERING IN PINE REGION OE CALIFORNIA. 83 
tributed by horse trucks. The cost is decreased by the elimination 
of yard tracks. 
Water systems must be installed for the protection of all yards, at 
a cost in addition to the above. Yard equipment, such as cars or 
trucks, represents a considerable additional investment. Sheds are 
added to most yards for storing air and kiln dried lumber. 
From the sorting table lumber is distributed to the piles by means 
of two-wheeled lumber trucks (buggies) or low four-wheeled cars. 
Steel tracks are required for the cars, but the trucks can be used on 
plank platforms. If the yard slopes slightly away from the mill both 
cars and trucks may be handled by hand labor. Where the haul is 
long or difficult horses may be used. Apparently one of the most 
economical methods at large mills is to use a small gasoline or electric 
locomotive. 
The cost of distributing lumber ready for piling averages from 20 
to 25 cents per 1 ,000. The cost at small mills is frequently lower than 
at large mills, because the distance is less. At one mill cutting 20,000 
daily two men are required to push the loaded lumber cars to the yard 
and unload them. The daily cost is $5, which is at the rate of 25 
cents per 1,000. However, one of these men devotes part of his time 
to wheeling out slabs, so the actual cost is less. At a representative 
single-band mill sawing 60,000 feet in a shift of 10 hours the lumber 
is distributed in the yard on cars by four men, at a cost of $11 per 
day, or 18 cents per 1,000. A smaller single-band mill with a daily 
output of 50,000 maintains a crew of four men to wheel the lumber 
out on trucks. The wages are $10 daily, or 20 cents per 1,000. A 
double-band mill located at the upper end of a flume, and having a 
daily output of 250,000, has a crew of 20 men distributing lumber 
on trucks. At a daily wage of $2.50 each the cost is $50 per day, or 
20 cents per 1,000. 
After the lumber is distributed the next step is piling it. The 
boards are laid in layers, stickers 1 or 2 inches thick being placed 
between the layers in order to provide circulation for air in drying. 
Spaces are left between the various boards in each layer for the same 
purpose. The piles are made with the rear end lower, and when 
completed are roofed to shed rain. Each pile preferably contains a 
single grade and boards of one length only. 
Piling is ordinarily done by hand, two men working together. For 
high piling derrick hoists operated either by a horse or by an electric 
motor are used to raise the boards. A third man is required in such 
instances. An electric piler requiring only two men is used by one 
company. Piling lumber is tedious work and is a job at which best 
results seem to be secured by contract. In fact, so much of the piling 
is done by this system that contract rates may be taken as standard 
