established he is able to determine the character of timber for a distance of at least 6½ paces on either side; second, for the reason that it enables him to cover more territory and accomplish the same object. If, however, he should discover the trees to be remarkably thin, and with little or no underbrush to contend with, he would, in that event, proceed west 125 paces each time, or exactly double the distance originally named. In this manner the entire section is gone over, traveling' north and south upon each occasion until it frequently happens that fully sixteen miles of traveling back and forth are necessary to complete the estimates on a single section. Where a tract of several thousand acres are involved, which often happens, it can be seen readily that a great deal of ground must necessarily be gone over in this way. As a rule, however, the estimator can see plainly for a distance of 6½ paces on either side, and arrive at a close conclusion regarding the quantity of timber on the land.
Very much depends upon the honesty of a cruiser, as may be assumed. He has it in his power to do either the contemplated purchaser of the tract or the one who sells an irreparable injury by any dishonest methods. For instance, he can "stuff" the estimates in such manner as to make it appear that there is a great deal more timber on the land than actually exists, or he can underestimate just as readily, according to how he has been "approached," and if his figures do not show that the land runs up to a given quantity or merchantable lumber, the seller is usually quite willing to shave the price; whereas, if it runs much more than anticipated, the would-be-purchaser is quite eager to buy, when, as a matter of fact, he is paying for padded returns.
In all truth the position of a cruiser or estimator in regard to honesty and reliability is on a par with that occupied by the cashier or paying teller of some large bank. In fact, it is more important, in some respects, as a crooked cruiser is capable of swindling his employer out of thousands of dollars without becoming involved in criminal liability, because, if cornered he can set up as a defense that subsequent estimates exposing- his dishonest efforts are the result of a difference of opinion between experts, and there is no law that can reach him.
A crooked cruiser can defraud his employer by standing in with the man who is selling the timber and stuffing the estimates, or turning in several thousand feet more per acre than the estimates justify. In consequence, a "square" cruiser—of which, unfortunately, the woods are not full—often receives high pay for his services, some of the best obtaining from $15 to $20 a day, besides expenses, and if he is sincere and earnest in his efforts to reach a proper determination of the quantity of timber on a tract, it is obvious that his services are worthy of even greater compensation.
As a matter of fact, estimating timber by "stumpage" has only been in vogue for a few years past, as it has heretofore been the custom to sell land by the quarter section, and not by the thousand feet, as it is purchased now. Consequently, until comparatively recent date, the services of a practical estimator have not been required on the Pacific Coast, as in days gone by, a few million feet one way or the other did not make so much difference on a quarter section. However, timber lands are constantly increasing in value, and rapidly becoming concentrated in the hands of a few wealthy syndicates, so that it is absolutely necessary to know the exact amount each acre is capable of producing before there is much likelihood of a sale. In other words, the intrinsic value of timber lands is becoming recognized more than ever before. "Stumpage" throughout the Pacific Northwest now ranges from 50 cents to $2.50 per thousand feet, according to market conditions and quality of timber, while a decade ago these lands were disposed of on the basis of from $4 to $10 an acre, as the supply and demand justified. This amounted practically to a maximum price of about 25 cents per thousand feet.
In order to be thoroughly competent in making estimates, the cruiser should have had some experience in scaling saw logs in the mill pond, or bed of the mill before being manufactured into lumber, as well as tallying the lumber
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