Productivity of Logging and Sawmill Labor as Affected by Tree Size

Results of logging and milling time studies in eastern forest regions are summarized in terms of man-hour cost, and their use in estimating present current costs in money is illustrated. They show consistency in labor efficiency among different localities. In connection with lumber-recovery values, they indicate that in most cases operating margins of at least $10 per M can be realized where cutting is confined to trees 15 inches d.b.h. and larger. These results emphasize the economic advantages of growing trees to financial maturity.