Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1875-05-05
MptNA WEEK Y ARGUS.
The Log Drives


drives IN the several districts
There is a disposition among man
ufacturers 10 magnify the unfavor
able points ia each season viii
reference TO the result Of TIE drives
and among dealers and consumer
corresponding inclination to be
little these contingencies. Tn,
actual results are therefore better
and ought TO be more satisfactor!
20 both parties, than any specula
tions, however astute or apparent
~ well founded.
In the Pennsylvania region about
Williamsport, the latest reports say
that the freshet has been abundant
and the logs are coming down in
lively style. The prospects are
good. The estimated stock TO be
received In the Lock Haven and
Williamsport booms is 2j0,000,000
feet. Everything is therefore very
promising in that locality.
In Wisconsin the hocds have
been excessive, and grave appre-
tensions Of damage were excited.
In Black river there was a big Jam
Of logs and ice az the falls, the
largest eyer known on the river,
containing from first 10 last not
less than fifty millions Of feet. The
efforts Of eighty men were requir-
ed FOR eight days TO break this jam.
On the Black river and on other
streams the promise is fair for a
successful drive. The Wisconsin
and tributaries are reported TO have
been well up and the logs coming
we'll, even the old stocks Of two or
three seasons back. a clean drive
i, expected TO be made on this
stream. The Wisconsin lumber
regions are therefore, according 10
the latest reports, in good condi-
ton as far as the drives are con-
cerned.
In Michigan, on the contrary,
all the reports, save from some Of
the smaller and more unimportant
districts, concur in representing the
prospect to DO an exceedingly IN
one. Even the shore
streams are at this date april %
falling rapidly. These streams
have hitherto been considered be-
FOND the ordinary contingencies
u the spring season, and to be
certain to send down their logs. ,
The Operations are as a rule upon !
he main streams, and the latter ,
re OF such a character that the ,
gater holds in them much better ,
han in most others Of this region. |
Tow, however, the Au Ores, the ,
life and some others are reported I
0 be exceedingly low, and log G
INNING upon them very doubt {
al thing. The Rife has been con- q
idered the most reliable Of all the
treams that send logs 10 the Sag Z
nav mills, and there is something /
ike 100000 feet Of logs on its q
'anks. Some Of the lumbermen
"a the river say that if the weather :
Iolds as at present-tbat is, without
big freshet-not more than % =
'er cent Of the logs can come out, {
o low is water. On the Tittaba-
'assee and its tributaries, the driv- y
~ is over until rain comes in =
lenty. The time has been well Z
while the water lasted, n
nd the Tittabawassee, the Salt, r
ne Chippeway, etc, yielded logs d
,pidly for few days. But now s.
le reports from all sections are of I,
riyes abandoned, lower water than b
yer before, ETC., On Bad river n
nd its tributaries, the water is out, v
nd the use Of the dams only suf- v
ces Cor two hours running per II
ay. The Cass river is in the n
inc general condition, and but a
nall proportion of its logs can =
ome out without a decided change !,
! the weather. From the west :,
,ore the reports arc scarcely more :,
icouraging. The main numbering :,
rcams are sharing the fate of !,
lose Of the Saginaw region, and :,
10 drives are being abandoned. T
My in tho small-producing dis .;
let far up the lower peninsula is |,
ere favorable report. n
There is, in fact, but little il any
'ristion in the reports from the
incipal Michigan districts. 1t
everywhere surprising and dis