Show Timber Operators Resist High Appraisal at Local Timber Sale Timber operators refused to raise bids beyond minimum required required re reo to start bidding In the opening of the Brownie Park timber sale last Thursday Inthe in inthe inthe the Vernal Forest office conference conference con con- ference room THREE SEALED bids were opened on the board feet sale Turner Building Supply Supply Supply Sup Sup- ply Crofts Lumber Company and Caldwell Lumber Company Company Com Com- pany all aU submitted minimum bids of 2850 per thousand board feet leet and enclosed the necessary deposit check qualifying them to oral bids to determine the successful highest bidder The minimum bid amounted to for the sale Turner Building Supply was not represented at the bid opening open open- ing log IN THE oral bidding Caldwell Caldwell Caldwell Cald Cald- well Timber Company raised the minimum bid one cent and and was awarded the timber at 2851 or Sy Croft of Crofts Timber Company refused to raise the bid because he said the appraised appraised ap ape praised value of the sale was too high An operator can cant can't t tafford afford to pay the high appraisal al price set by the U US U.S. S Forest Service and make a reasonable reasonable reason reason- able profit Mr Croft Cron stated AFTER WINNING the bid Bryce Caldwell owner of Caldwell Timber Company stated that the cost ala als ls used by the Forest Service allowed for lor logging costs are not Dot high enough to allow a timber operator enough margin margin mar mar- gin of profit The logging appraisal costs are based on figures over a year old and do not allow for present day Inflation and the selling cost costis costIs' costIs Is Is' based on the current runaway run away high price of timber This combination puts the squeeze on the margin of pro pro- fit In the local timber milling business stated Mr Caldwell Cald Cald- well The price of the Brownie Park sale added 8 13 onto the bid price because of the high prices presently beIng being be be- Ing for timber The escalation escalation escalation es es- figure is determined by the difference between the latest quarterly index and the base Index of 01 the timber sale The difference is divided by two and this figure is either added or subtracted to the bid p price of the sale In theory In a high market marketan an extra amount will be added added added add add- ed to the bid and in a poor market the price will be reduced reduced re reo to help give the buyer an assistance because of the thelow thelow thelow low price of 01 timber This process process process pro pro- cess is supposed to even out the extreme highs and extreme lows of the market price of timber according to the US U.S. Forest Service ci 4 y ey d a A ROAD CROSSING Ashley Creek near Alma farm The bridge was washed out here lost last year and has not been replaced lt It Is planned to let flood waters wash over the road this year When high water is over the large missile casings located at the upper center of photo will be installed |