Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-03-30
THE LUMBER BUSINESS ON THE
KENNEBEC.
Life In the Logging Swamps-Old Times
in the Camps Getting the Logs into the
River.

in the Camps -Get;ing the Logs into the
River.
Much has been said and written OF the ice bust
ness on the Kennebec, its commerce, &c. We
have seen that the former has not answered our
expectations, and that those who have worshipped
at the shrine ofthe Ice Goddess have found tickle
Idol 1t is refreshing to know that there is anoh-
er branch Of business connected with the river
which is in the hands Of men who know how to
make it go at all times.
Far up about the tributaries Of Moosehead lake
and the noble river that takes its rise there large
forces have III winter been cutting and preparing
the logs that will eventually be seen eaping over
the Augusta Dam into the tide waters OF the Ken
nebec These men have been sent by those VINO
own timber lands there, from all along the river,
and have now about finished their work in that
section, having placed the logs where they can be
easily hoated off when the ice thaws.
We remember gentleman in our neighborhood
who sent teams to that region every winter. The
men were picked out in our vicinity, and hauled
their own provisions. They were looked upon as
going out of the world for time, once in awhile
tote team, as it was called, went through to
them with supplies which was the only means OF
communication they had with the outer world.
Some OF them did not avail themselves of even that
when they came back we looked upon them as
voyagers from around Cape Horn. We gathered
round them, and listened with wonder, while they
told us weird stories of camp life, of huge fire,
when they lay on beds of pine boughs, and re-
cited to each other tales of adventure hair breadth
escapes from falling trees, of Involves. catamount and
loupcerver. They told us of shooting the majestic
moose, and catching splendid trout through the ice
of pots of beans cooked in the ground, and other
dishes that were delightful to US. They told us of
such displays Of Northern lights as were never
known before, and some Of the learned ones des-
cribed the mutitudes Of stars seen during the long
exile They brought their snow shoes home which
we scanned with eager eyes that grew big with
delight, as they produced the teats Of spruce gum
dearer far to us than all the trophies they could
have brought. Their unkemped hair, and
shaved faces, were not in fashion in those days,
and added no little effect to their marvellous sto-
ries Hardy fellows, they have passed on and
times have changed, and probably some OF the us
ages of camp life with it. But Peter Farley him
self never infatuated us boys much as these
hirsute sons Of the forest. The ring of their keen
axes in the grand silence Of the solitude, and the
crashing Of the lordly pine as they sent 1t top
ping to the ground will figure in our memories as
long as we i've and are part of the influence that
have made Maine's sons so loyal to their glorious
old State.
Upon each log the owner has caused to be put
his private mark which is as sacred as noble
mans crest, and means far more to us; for 1t Is
the token Of honest labor and enterprise, and not
of barbarous days gone by. To the unpracticed
eye, they look, many Of them, like the hierogly-
phics of the Egyptians but to those who collect
tueUl, tucy arc TIC EcouS LASohS Va
the logs wherever found
As the season advances, the logs on the streams
running into the lake, Will ind their way TO Its
surface, then be towed by steamers to its outlet.
There men trained to the business are ready to
receive and guide them along their course. The
route they are to pursue is divided into sections, it
being the duty of one crew to. take care Of them
in one, and another in the next, and so on. They
are augmented by other logs driven down the va
rious tributaries of the main stream, and this Is
Ill &lH lr,x ov,l f,o IV,ynr ia
duty to keep the logs going. They follow them
down in boats called batteaux, ian exceedingly
picturesque craft and the same as used 10y Bene-
dict Arnold il his famous march over this same
route to Quebec in the Revolutionary war; car
rying tents and cooking utensils with them. In
this romantic way they pursue their voyage
until the logs jam and stop. Then they pitch
their tents and remain at work till their passage Is
insured, when they proceed again
The clearing OF Jam is described as very ex-
citing and dangerous work, sometimes, and the
display of feats of daring and courage are hard to
beat. Many of the drivers are French Canadians.
In this way the drive reaches Augusta, and then
they 90 into the hands OF another class OF men,
the former being made up largely OF farmers
along the route, and who have perhaps worked in
the woods by the lake all winter Some of the logs
will De jammed or stopped at different places up
river all summer for want OF water enough to hoat
them down. This sometimes does not happen till
October. A picked crew has been taking care of
them and follows them clear through, cleaning
them all up-this is called the rear drive. We find
by the annual report of the Log Driving Co. for
1874 that about 200 men are employed from April
to June at a total expense of S55,52l SO.
1t is fine sight to see the logs going over the
Dam in freshet, and strangers visiting there
speak of it very attractive.
1t has been our province to see these logs into
tide waters; we shall endeayor to follow them to
their several destinations and beng better &C
quainted with them as they journey down river
can know better how to describe their peIegrina-
tons till they are ready to be slowed away in some
vessel engaged for the west. ID.