Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1880-04-21
CALIFORNIA DRYERS.

The California ranchmon have won
deriul aptitude Tor driving and on'
sees some pretty good examples among
n the hills. The road down the noun
tain sides is entirely unguarded upor
the outer edge, and the descent in
most place is PERCEPTIONS. a balky
horse or a fractured wheel, or slight
carclessness in handling the reins
might easily send u carriage load Of peo
pie to destruction-an awful destruc
ton too. The path is wide enough for
one pair of wheels only, ,butat intervals
in favorable places, it broadens so that
teams may pass each other, To drive
in such manner as not TO meet
another traveller midway between these
places is q special branch Of the art.
The huge lumber teams which carry
wood from the mills in the mountains
to the yards in the valleys, being un.
wieldy and very heavy, are especially
hard to manage. Yet the drivers
always seem easy and nohchalant.
First there is q large four.wheeled
oaken truck with seat in front ten
feet above the ground; behind il is
another truck, somewhat shorter but
still enormously stout. They are fast
ened together and loaded with from
ten to fifteen tons Of freshly-sawn
lumber-boards and ioists. This mass
is drawn by six or eight mules or
horses, guided by relns and prodi-
giously long whip. The first wagon has
a powerful brake, worked by long
iron lever by the driver upon his seat
The driver is a man OF nerve and
courage. Ills skill must be of the
highest order. IL will not do fol him
to take fright even if in imminent
danger, and he must know TO a hairs
breadth whore he can 90 and where
he cannot. Towering up iar above
the road, overlooking the most stu.
pendous depths, and guiding with u
few slender lines a tremendous force,
be must needs be an adept, and tire
less one. But beholder-ignorant of
the danger that surrounds him-would
say that his work was simple, and that
he managed matters with ease. True,
he seems to. With his broad.brimmed
hat shading bis sun.burnt face, his
sinewy hands holding the reins with
carelessness, his legs outstretched, with
one foot feeling the all important
brake, he iogs onward with hN monster
charge without trouble or concern
the bells upon the horses breasts jingle
little tune the great wheels crush
the stones in the path the load creaks
like ships hull IN q sudden gust
wild birds sweep down into hazy,
sunny depths below yet the driver
seems to take no heed. But let Il
"scare" take place let a herd OF runa-
way cattle appear at bend and set
the horses wild and then see what
will happen. The day.dreamer will
become a giant of strength he is up
in n flash he shortens his hold on the
reins, and feeling his wagon start up
beneath him, places foot Of iron on
the brake The horses snort and rear
and surge the harness rattles, the
dust arises, the load shrieks again,
and the huge wheels turn fatally faster.
An instant may hurl the wagon down
into the valley with its struggling
train-a mad rush TO the other side of the
way may end all in one horrible plunge,
Muscle, eye, brain and skill are then
brought to work so splendidly together
that the peril is averted, and the locker
on, who knows not the way of the
land, regards the teamster with pro.
found respect thereaher.-Son Fran
! CISCO Ar1MS.