Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1879-07-24

The following extract, showing how
shingles are made IN Delaware cypres,
swamp. IL from an article by Howard
| Pyle In HuTper's Magdzine: As VIZ
plunged deeper into the swamp the trees
increased In size. Here and there a
black pool Of water lay cleaning sullen.
! ly, hiding, ns IL were. among n thick
! growth of rank ferns and ycnomous-
looking flowers. Vine-covercd Expresses
rose high aloft, the Inevitable strcamcrz
+ oi gray moss hanging motionlcssly pen.
dent. The noise of the shingle-cuttcrs
sounded ever more clearly, like the ran
pin2 OF gigantic woodpcckcr-"t tap
tap tap; tap, Jap, tap "--ns they chop
ped out The shingles, the sound of the
voices Of the invisible woykmcn and AN
occasional burst of laughter cchoing
myFt"Tlously in the gloomy and other
wis" unbroken solitude; and 80 We came
upon the shinglc center.
The workmcn had Just cxcavatcd a
log, the butt or root part within a few
inches OF the surface of the ground the
stem nj the farther end some two or three
icet below. At about twenty feet dis
lance from the butt "a young man WAS
busy saving through the log. His checks
"cf" hollow, his features angular, gen
cral cadaycrous look bctokcning chillg
and fever. The saw had handlconly nj
one end, like the instrument used for
cutting lee. The sharp end struck deep
~ into the n ound at every movement.
but was not dulled. because Of the entire
freedom from grit Of the soil composed
as II Is of decayed bark and vegetation.
We watched with interest, taking a
sketch in thc meantime, until the log
was sawed through. 1t now made "A
section about twenty feet long. and COM
paratlvcly easy 10 handle. The gang.
composed of half a dozen hands, now srt
10 work TO raise ii from its rcstng-pacc.
wiih iong levers Of stout saplingz, the
process accompanied with many grun,s
aud oaths. II was picturesque sight
the men in their red and blue shirts
straining and tugging at the giant log
that lay in it, long. gravel like cavity.
At length il starts at one end with a
sucking noise as il leaves its oozy bed. Is
gradually raised TO the surface. and j.
finally rolled bodily out of its cxcava-
tion 10 the fresh air. where it lies like
some newly disinterrcd autediluyian
monster, hugu, black and Shiny.
\ purity good log says one Of the
men, as he draws the sleeve of his red
shirt across his swcat-beadcd brow.
When the log is thus finally raised it is
sawed into sections each about two feet
in length; these are then split down To
the requisite thickness for shingles. The
logs are first discovered by means of a
sharp iron stake, which j. thrust into
the ground wherever a slight mound
like elevation bctokcns the probable
presence Of a log or logs beneath Ifthc
point uf the st kc strikes the hard sur
face If wood instead OF sinking easily
into the norasS, the soil j. cleared away.
and n square foot Of the stump exposed.
The practiccd eye Of the shingle man
rnn tell nj once whether the log j. useful.
the requisites for use being straight
grain throughout. with no knots. sound
ness and no decay. II sound. good
log. II is then uncovered. sawed through
and raised.
Whom Il. log was completely raised.
our guide resumed his work. splitting
tho sawed sections into shingles TAX
Ing 90 % unc of the drycsi uf the fallen
log. .u 'pah q largo chunk upright
between his knees. He used a broad
knit p '1.'. with q long wooden handle.
wlU,.. N" placed on the log. driving IL
into ! wood with q heavy hardwood
ma .t u.i. "a. j. used hy seulptor- aud
-i'......rE,.-. Alta liitIc distance from
him .lHE-y-looking fellow with rod
shirt and patched truwser- was sitting
AT q Single horse. shaving the split
slabs 81 wood smooth and tapcring Be
side him Jay . pile of clean, crisp look
inG shnyings, emitting that odor peculiar
to wc.l-scasoncd cypress Tho horse used
is tho ordinary coopcr's horse. and needs
no special description. From this point
the shingles are carried 10 the roadside,
30 hc handy for transportation.