, 1884-01-24
County, Washington Territory Thursday January
4 VISIT To one IN JEFFERSON COUNTY.

TIHs. LotiGgNG CAMP.
VISIT To ONE IN JEFFERSON COUNTY.
I As a subject of interest to the reading
! public, the logging industry as a branch
| of the great numbering business OF Puget
Sound offers attractions, and as deS-
/ cription of the mode of conducting log,
/ girg operations on a modern approved
/ plan cannot fail to be of interest to the
many readers of the ARGUS, both at home
| and abroa I, We ARGUS reporter in view
OF this fact. chose as the subject of the
present article the works of Mr.. r. De
/ lanty, situated at the head of Discovery
Bay, l y miles from Port Discovery mills,
IN Jefferson county.
The camp has been placed upon a
bluff, IFS altitude. at least 500 feet at this
point. which rising abruptly from the
water assumes a steep and dangerous as
pect,aud ranges to much greater hight
looking toward the east. The camp Is
reached by a short winding road leading
from the beach, upon which supplies are
hauled and means of communication eS-
tablished with the outside wOrld,an its
construction formed the first undeTtak-
ing in this enterprise; it can be readily
understood from the nature of the sur
roundings that the completion of this
road was no easy task. A few buildings
comprise the settlement, which includes
cabins, boarding house and stables, and
are built for the most part of cedar hewn
out of the tree, and used in its natural
rOughness. The main building, notice
able feature universally connected with
logging interests in all timber countries.
heing known rs the camp, is primitive
in style, aud designed to view of econ
omy and convenience; the constant shift,
ing of location necessary in this business.
renders the construct on of more sub
stantial habitations impractics BILE. The
camp building is divided in two COM
partments, one being utilized as kitch-
Ell and dining room. the other as sleep
ing apartment, around which two tiers of
bunks one above the other are ranged
with large open fireplace in the center
which no doubt sheds it's glow of comfort
around a circle Of cOngenial spirits in so
cial harmony.
THE RAILROAD AND CHUTE.
The most conspicuous object in con-
uection with these works. is the railroad
leading from the woods to the bluff
where an immense chute has been con-
structed of solid timber. The chute is
fully one-half mile long, running
into the bay, and upon which the logs
as they are rolled from the car. are sent
crashing with great Tapidity int the
water below, where thay float in security
Il considerable space into the bay, being
eucircled by a system of boom sticks
reaching round the end of the chute.
The railroad consists of wooden rails.
eight inches square. The track is
eight feet Guage, sofidly built on ties and
stringers of hewn timber; the whole ap
pearance of which indicates permanence
and stability; its length is at present i
miles. penetrating into the forest, and
will be extended from time to time as
the needs of the business require. The
cars upon this road are of peculiar con-
struction, specially adapted to the work
Of transporting logs,and are known as the
"Blackman logging car" They are wide
and heavy. and are twenty-four feet in
length. but may be extended nearly
twice that length; are fitted with brakes.
and fully answer the purpose for which
they arc intended. The cost of the rail
road and chute will reach the sum of
$1,000. A team of six horses are used
in drawing the cars upon which they are
loaded from eight to twelve logs each trim.
These horses were procured from Walla
w dlitis ann dlC LuC III every iCS-
meet. and their appearance at present
denote the good care and attention
| that is bestowed upon them 1t may be
stated that though horses are in use in
| these works, locomotives are used in
many of the logging camps of the Sound,
designed especially for the business of
| drawing logs.
IN THE FOREST.
To mark ont parts in the trackless
| woods; to economize time and labor in
| the subsequent Telling. strippin~ SAVING
and handling of timber is the business
of the logger, and success in this line
may be mainly asrribed to fOrethhugh'.
skill and experience. Turnin" from the
end of the railroad track in different di.
rertions are skidded roads. upon which
| vokes of cattle are employed shaking logs
| to the landing. where the cars are load
cd. After a piece of road is finished
the timber is carefully fallen convenient
| to it. which i; then sawed into logs of de-
sired lengths barked and stripped of
| limbs. etc. The force of men employed
are then removed to another piece of
| road. before hauling begins on the pre-
! vi0us one.and in this way the work moves
| forward in systematic manner; each
man having a particular part assigned
day. The quality of the timber in this
section is excellent, and will averace
81 feet in diameter; though the write r
was shown trees of from eight to twelve
| feet in diameter. which the proprietor
stated would not pay to remove at the
p"esent time; some of which are free from
limbs for a distance of one hundred to
one hundred and fifty feet from the
ground. The richness and fertility Of
the soil upon which these grim monarchs
stand is an evident theory of the SUPER
abundant growth. The proprietor stated
tl'at he had at least five years cutting Mt
the present rate. .(being the owner of 1000
acres Of timber land.l
Further conversation with this gen.
tleman elected the fact that he en-
ployed in the summer season about 80
men. and hal at present I6 men in his
employ, and with the team of homes
already spoken of, and seven yoke of
cattle comprising IL in number, is
enabled to put 10000 feet of saw logs in
the water each day; although this amount
would be greatly increased during the
summer season. The wages paid in sum-
mer will average S55 per man; the high
est being that of OK teamster.who in some
cases receives as high as 800 per month
These figures include board, and it will
be readily admitted that the quality of
board in the logging camp is a good
feature of it-generalIy speaking. This
camp employs blacksmith constantly.
also an experienced woodsman as fore
man