The Winslow mail., 1925-01-16
APPRAISAL AND
ESTIMATES ON
THE S|TCREAVES
SALE OF TIMBER
Continued from page u

to the common carrier railroad. The
soil over the unit is sandy and gravel
ly, which will permit of cheap con-
struction and easy maintenance. The
average cost of the main line, includ
ing steel, is estimated at approximate
ly $4,000 per mile. The spur should
be built for an average of about ST.
700 per mine. The construction of
the estimated amount of railroad will
provide for the removal of both the
private and national forest timber.
Logging Conditions and Methods
Logging conditions are favorable.
The method provided for the appraisal
is big wheels and 8-wheel wagons.
There is very little underground on
the area, except pine reproduction.
Rock outcrop occurs in but very few
places. Under normal conditions, log
ging can be carried on throughout the
year.
In this portion of Arizona there are
two distinct wet periods. One oc-
ours during the months of July and
August and is called locally the "rainy
season" During this season the
weather and wet ground interfere
somewhat with logging. The other
wet period is during the late winter
and spring when the snow may get
from six inches to two feet deep. This
snow, when melting in the spring.
causes the ground to get boggy. Snow
in the southwest does not, however,
permit of sleigh haul as it softens
up in the middle of the day.
Erosion on the area has deepened
the drainage channels on the area to
be logged which will increase some
what the cost of railroad construction,
and cost of wheel and truck roads.
This increased cost has been taken
into account in arriving at the log
ging costs.
Manufacturing
This timber will be delivered to the
Apache railroad near the town of
Snowflake or Taylor. Holbrook is "a
miles from Snowflake on the Santa
Fe railroad. Either of these places
offers possible location for a mill
Drying conditions are excellent at
any of these points and the climate
in any of them would permit the op-
GRAFTON of the mill for IL months each
year.
Attractive Features of the Operation
O Fully 80 per cent of the tim
Der on this sale is western yellow
pine, which is very desirable species
from the operators standpoint 1t is
marketed under a number of trade
names, the most common of which is
Arizona soft pine of Arizona white
pine. Western yellow pine is an ex-
cellent shop and box wood. 1t is also
very satisfactory for general construc-
tion purposes.
(2) The timber is of good quality
for the southwest and of nice size
to handle with teams.
(3) The operator in national for
est stumpage has not the usual large
investment tied up in stumpage, but
pays for it practically as it is cut, |
thereby avoiding the burden of carry
ing costs and interest and taxes.
General Conditions of the Sale
sThe stumpage alone is offered for
sale, the title of the land being re-
tanned by the government The tim
Der will be advertised and the mini
mum stumpage rate quoted. Adver-
tisement will run for at least four
months and the right to reject any
and all bids will be reserved. Two
years will be allowed for the con-
struction of the necessary initial i'm
provements. Three years after the
initial cutting operation is started,
the Forest Service has the option of
increasing the stumpage rates to con-
form with general stumpage values
and current prices being received for
similar timber in the southwest. This
stumpage price revision is based on
q 1c.>
be made at three-year intervals after
the first three-year period. Eleven
years will be allowed for the removal
of the timber on the initial SALE New
units of timber will be put on the
market from time to time as needed
Basic information for re-appraisal
of stumpage prices is carefully pre-
pared by experienced logging engin-
eers, thoroughly familiar with the
numbering industry in the southwest.
Not only in the initial appraisal, but
in the re-appraiSals, full consideration
is given to allowing the operator a
reasonable margin for profit and risk.
The Forest Service does not, however,
guarantee that the purchasers oper-
ating costs will be as low as those
given in the appraisal and re-apprais-
ais.
Appraisal costs are based on aver
age wage scale for three to five years
and on average efficiency. Operators
who are above the average in effici-
ency may be able to operate cheaper
than the costs given in the appraisal.
1t is estimated by the logging engin-
.eer, that the logging cost from stump
to common carrier will be about $10.55
including telling, bucking, brush dis
posal, skidding and hauling to track,
wood supervision, maintenance of log
ging equipment, loading on cars, haul
ing to common carrier railroad, main
tenance of railroad and railway equip
ment, moving camp and unloading in
pond.