The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1870-07-15
LAUNDERING on Puget Sound.

LAUNDERING on Puget Sound.
The Overland Monthly contains an interesting
description Of the manner In which the forests
which cover the steep shores Of tie grsatiestuary
stretching from the Pacific into the heart Of
Washington Territory, are converted into lum-
Der,
The mere "feiling Of . tree" - generally
understood by woodmen. Is but simple matter
oflabor; but In the forests Of Oregon and
Washington Territory, Il ID quite novel I'M.
dertaking. The trees being extremely large at
It's base, with immense outspreading roots, and
frequently "shaky" or perhaps . little decsyed
labor to cutit sometimes a. high mp - dhesn
feet from the ground. 10 do this, the chopper
makes square notch into II, - high up -
practicable, and inserts the end Of his board
which Il about Ave feet long and eight or nine
inches wide, furnished with an iron clip" at the
end, which catches 10 The upper side Of the
notch In the trrc, preventing Il from slipping
out when the man b standing on Il; he then
leaps upon the board, cuts another notch ~
high up a. he can re,ch; strikes his are Into
the trunk above his head, holding on 10 the
helve with one hand, sticks bis toes into the
notch below. and then removes the board from
Il 10 the notch above, while. half jumping
and climbing, he mounts his board again. II
high enough up, he chips OF the bark with bis
heavier axe, and then. with his thin sharp one.
cuts broad "scarf'' into the heart Of thetrce
on the side he desires Il to fall; then ehopplng
the other side till the tree Il about 70 come
down, he calls out "Under! under!" a. warn.
Ing signal. A few more strokes with the keen
xe. and the leviathsn Of The forest begins to
bow its towering top. When sure Of Its falling
the chopper fings his axe st . distance to
to the ground, and quickly removes his board to
the notch below; then, swinging himself clear
Of the ponderous roots, he jumps to the ground,
while the trees comes down with crashing
noise that Is heard for miles distant.
The two sswyers then mount the fallen tres,
and the chief, With an eight-foot pole, measures
of the length for each log, according a. they
win cut to the best advantage. Twenty-four-
feet lengths predominate. and hence the custom
Of using . pole eight feet long to MEASURE
three lengths Of Il being the usual linear dl-
mensi, n Of logs designed for boards and many
descriptions Of planks or deals. The bark Is
then cut of around the trec sufficiently TO pre-
vent the saw comi In contact with Il when
drawn through the log with that skillful move
ment only acquired BY practiced sawyers.
Then come ths swampep, who. under the di-
rection Of the "boss," clear the roads, and the
"skidder,' with axe, msttock, crow-bar, and
shovel, who prepares and places the skids. A
tall, slender sapiug Is selected for the purpose.
then felled and cut into nine-feet lengths. THESE
skids are placed across the road about seven
feet apart, and with 81 much precision as the
ties OF railroad; the bark Is chipped OF on
the upper side, after the skid is laid, In order
that the logs may glide glibly over the ribbed
road, and when the skids become dry, they arc
moistened with oil. The logs having been duly
prepared by the barkers, next Genes the team
ster, with bis team Of eight oxen, or, II the
timber Is small. one yoke Of cattle are hooked 70
q single log, or perhaps two logs; although II
the timber Is very large, the whole team is
hitched 10 one log. With shout and spur
from his goad, the team all pull together, and
the log Is soon hauled to the "rolllng.tisr.
When the rolliug-tier Is full. the shoppers arc
removed, and the logs are rolled or tumbled over
long ''stringers" into the water. At some
points, where the shore is high and preciptous,
. sort Of extended sluice is constructed OF mar
row but long timber. and the logs are then slid
from height Of ffty to hundred feet to the
water, In which they successfully plunge, and
rebound to the surface in every fantastic fashion.
Sufficient logs having been collected In the boom,
which receives them from the bank. they are
then made into q raft-which Is also called
boom, by the lumbermen-for transportation to
the mill. These booms arc made up either ss .
"round," or o Square" or "heater" boom,
30 called from their difference In shape and the
manner Of securing them. From three to four
hundred thousand feet Of logs generally cousti-
tute round boom, while In > square or heater
there Is usually not lcs than Ave hundred thou
sand feet. All being In readiness, the tug-boat
comes and tows II to the mill. Occasionally,
when there Is heavy breeze and an adverse
tide, the Sound becomes 70 rough that the ran
breaks up. and all s lost, except the boom sticks,
which are shackled together by the massive
chains. Many millions Of feet OF lumber have
been lost by the breaking up Of these rats, Al
though, under ordinary circumstances, there 10
no difficulty In towing rats In any part Of the
inlets an Srund. Once at the mill, the logs
arc deposited In the boom adjoining, and the
steamer returns to camp for another tow.
At the mill, all 10 hurry snd excitement.
Coasting and foreign vessels are lying At the
while others are loading with the
lumber. which varies from the
heavy, square timber hundred and thirty feet In
length, down to lsths which require hundred
to make up . bunch. The principal mills upon
the Sound are on an extensive scale. or these,
that at Port Ma, ison 10 one Of the best. saving
Z hundred thousand feet Of lumber daily a.
though the Port Gamble Mill cuts greater
amount, employs more hands, and d BY far the
most extensive establishment Of the kind In the
Territory, being known under the name Of
"Puget Mil Company" Two hundred men
are employed about the mill. and the same num-
Der In the logging-c Tho company manu-
facture annually thirty million feet Of long tim
Der. besides large amount Of lsths, piekets,
and shingles.