Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1859-09-21
CLEARFIELD Pa WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21 1859

hewn as near square can be. Whilst thus
engaged, many woodsmen live in cabins, where
they do their own cooking and such work as is
necessary to their comfort. OF course, when
houses are convenient and boarding can be OBJ
tained, it is done. Some serious and fatal ac-
cidents have occurred from the falling of trees,
but the greatest number of accidents have re-
suited from the glancing Of the axe whilst
chOpping timber of which the sap was hard
frozen. SThe requisite number of sticks OBJ
tanned and made, advantage is taken of the
snow to haul the lumber to a stream. Two
horses or oxen are generally attached to q
stick containing 80 to 100 cubic feet. 1t Of
ten requires much greater force, owingfo
the contents of the stick and the character of
the road-the latter having the greatest infiu-
ence. AT first only the timber handy to a
miles. Oftimes in hauling spars, ten span of
horses are found insufficient. Many such
sticks cut and run, which are from so to
80 feet in length and from 80 to 10 inches in
diameter. When the timber sticks or spars
are hauled to the river they are laid side by
side and secured by lash poles so as 10 form
raft about % feet wide and 200 feet or up
wards in length. A timber raft averages a
bout 5000 cubic feet, and a spar raft contains
about twenty sticks. These RATS, like board
RATS and arks, are managed by oars hung fore
and aft. The downward current of the stream
is the propelling power. The oars are only
used to guide the RATS. The crookedness of
the stream, the SwiftneSS of the water in some
places, and the rocks which are in or near the
channel, require that the RATS should be in
charge of experienced and skillful pilots. On
our streams the pilots command the forward
oar, instead of, as in other places, taking po-
sition on the hindmost part of the craft. In
some places the navigation is very dangerous,
stroke with the oar at wrong time or place
sometimes running the raft on a rock, CT high
and dry on shore. Such mishap frequently
causes other RATS to stave at the same place
and sometimes a number OF RATS are piled one
another before the descending crafts can
be informed of the mishap, and saved by be-
ing secured to shore. i Occasionally an acci-
dent to one raft prevents the passage of others
for days and a food. is lost. When STAYED in
some localities raft is scarcely worth looking
after. Occasionally the raft must be taken off
of the rocks stick by stick and re-rafted. A
bout the same force is necessary to run tim
Der or spar raft raft of boards, and the
expense is about the same. To run the lum-
Der, advantage is taken OF the periodical
foods caused by the melting of the snow or
the rains which fall in this section. Lumber
cannot be run but at the time of flood, and
it has happened that year has elapsed with
out running ireshet occurring. Should the
food be very high it renders the navi CATION so
dangerous that the RATS await the falling of
the water. The stage of the water has much
influence upon the distance the craft will de-
scend and the length of time to be employed
in running, as it is not every place along the
river where landing can be effected or a safe
harbor obtained. Each raf. is provided with a
rope about inches through and some so or
60 feet in length. One end of this is secure
Iy attached to the raft, and when it is desired
to land, the other end is thrown on shore, and
a hand gets on shore to ssSnub,'' that is, pass
the rope around tree and gradually check
the progress of the raft. Too sudden a check
would break the rope. To assist in landing,
long sticks, called ssgrouserS," are sometimes
passed through openings in the raft These
rubbing along the bed of the river retard the
passage of the raft. To land requires quick
ness and some skill. Occasionally, partiCu-
larly when the water is high and wild, land
ings are missed and the raftSmen spend night
upon the water, surrounded by perils. Should
the hand on shore unluckiy be caught in a
coil of tho rope, leg may be severed from
the body by clean cut. Casualties on the
river are of rare occurrence, considering the
number engaged and the liability to accidents.
(T0 DE CoSTINCED)