The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1875-04-17
LETTER FROM "PRETZEL."
LOCK HAVEN, April 1O.h, 1875.

LOCK HAVEN, April lotH, 1879.
MIR. EDIToR:-This is a town (or city it
is called of $4,000 settled inAabitants; it
now contains about ii, 600, at least 1000
floating population-tmber men, rafters,
&c., &c. Indeed the entire stream, three.
eighths of a mile wide, is bridged SO that
you can walk from shore to shore on square
timber i'll RATS, the raft in all cases in charge
of five to seven men to work it; but the
round logs go it alone at random, float
loosely, each one taking course rs the cur
rent strikes it, twenty five per cent of which
lodge along the river somewhere in running
900 miles to Port Deposit. The streams
are all bankful, and eighty per cent of the
lumber men ditto. One of these fellows
will guzzle a quart of benzine or lightning
whisky and bank himself any where, sleep
out all night awaking with the suns rise,
and never sneeZe, go to work and repeat
the next night. They are the greatest econ
omtsts i'll the item of lodging l ever knew,
but | suppose it's necessity with them
They think whisky is as necessary as air,
and that water is only for four. legged ami
mails and to run timber on, while whisky at
one cost is three in one-lodging, drink and
wealth-for the time being While they as
people q mean the employees are terri
bly, dlsslpated, they almost to 4 man have
one redeemlng trait, perhaps two, namely,
they always welcome you warmly to their
shanty. and both you and your pocket book
are safe, and it seems they are only afraid
they can't do too much for you. They are
heavy handed, brawny sons of toll, hew-
ers of wood and drawers of water would
like to put il BenZoled whskey, who you'd
knock you into smithereens in a second if
you would put chip on your hat tramp
on their corns; but the next moment would
fight old cloven foot, spear and all, if you
needed their aid &c.
They go into the woods late in August to
bark. frequently taking the whole family,
build shanty, stables, &c, to accommo
date, say thirty hands. four horses. three
cows, and remain there till the first of April,
or earlier, if flood comes-hewing, roll
ing, cutting. hauling several millions of
cubic feet of timber, shingles. &c. When
they are ready to go down the river, they
lash two RATS together. say 100 feet long
and so feet wide, put their family. horses.
cattle, utensils, tools and all effects on it
and away they glide gaily down stream to
Lock Haven to deliver to the contractor his
timber, and receive their voucher as pay
for six months work. much for cubic
foot, also to sell their useless stock for
four months at least even at a sacrifice, to
get ready money to have a soaking old
drunk, else to buy tricks and footing horns
for children and gaudy trirpery for their
women, regardless of any thing but color;
red is the favorite hue even IN noses float
ing nosegays.
The contractor stops his timber here for
week or ten days, as this is the first sale
port IF buyers do not come forward he
drops it down to Williamsport and so on
down till it reaches Columbia. At present
buyers are few and cery wary; indeed they
are simply waiting and watching their
prey, hawk like. Some are compelled TO
sell, and such always get bottom prices
They must sell. else go to the bottom, in
deed prospect for the Eoacest prices known
for timber for ten years is apparent, so
much timber and SO little money; three
seasons timber on hand, and no demand
home or abroad gives the buyer room to
make his own prices regardless of the sell
er's wishes and interests.
wonder the men even in your vicinity
having saw mills don't come up here and
buy square timber on warranty delivery:
it certainly would pay.
The dealers Qumber brokers' are always
now monopolists, live in grand style, are
generally crude but noble hearted men,
where charity is needed, but Yankees in
trade, always driving sharp bargain.
More again, PRETzEL.