108 BULLETIN 711, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
cost is higher where practically all chokers are made from new rope 
than where one-half or more of the chokers are made from old main 
yarding lines. Taking it straight through the region, the cost per 
thousand feet for chokers used in connection with ground yarding 
probably ranges from $0.03 to $0.05, the cost in hard chances run- 
ning a little higher. The cost of tag and yarding lines, straps, etc., 
amounts to about $0.01 per thousand feet. Loading lines are dis- 
cussed under " Loading." 
The cost of rigging, including chokers, tag lines, yarding lines, 
etc., and not including the main loading line, at one camp amounted 
to $0,064 per thousand feet. It would seem that the cost should 
never be higher than this. The country was mountainous and badly 
broken up, the slopes for the most part being steep. Logs were 
moved both up and downhill. The yarding engines were powerful 
and output was not sacrificed to reduce the wear and tear on equip- 
ment. The logs averaged about 1,850 feet in volume. Most of the 
rigging was made from new wire rope. The cost of rigging, in- 
cluding chokers, tag lines, crotch lines, etc., and not including the 
main loading lines, at another camp amounted to $0,044 per thou- 
sand feet. The country was not particularly rough or badly broken 
up. The logs averaged about TOO feet in volume, one, two, three, 
or four logs being brought in at a trip, depending on conditions. 
The yarding engines were powerful and driven at high speed, most 
stress being laid on output. The rigging for the most part was made 
from new rope. At another camp the cost of rigging, including 
chokers, tag, yarding, and crotch lines, etc., and not including main 
loading lines, amounted to $0,057 per thousand feet. The country 
was practically level. Never less than two logs were yarded at a 
trip, sometimes three, four, or five. The logs averaged about 700 
feet in volume. The yarding engines were driven at high speed. 
Blocks, hooks, and rollers. — Very few operators keep account of 
the replacement and maintenance cost of blocks, hooks, and rollers. 
It does not, however, amount to much, ranging from $0.02 to $0.03 
per thousand feet, including labor, repair parts, and materials. 
At one camp the replacement and maintenance cost of blocks, hooks, 
and rollers used in yarding and loading amounted to $0,024 per 
thousand feet. The country was mountainous and badly broken up, 
the slopes for the most part being steep. Logs were moved both up- 
hill and downhill. About one-third of the timber was double hauled. 
The logs, which averaged about 1;900 feet in volume, were yarded an 
average maximum distance of about 900 feet. 
Fuel. — Most operators use wood for fuel in ground yarding en- 
gines; a considerable number, fuel oil; and a very limited number, 
coal. The use of wood is about the same in other methods of yard- 
ing and in swinging and roading. 
