Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1890-10-21
Majne LumbsTmen.

There is an old saying in the State, that
Maine Yves made for the lumber business,
and surely with this end in view there seems
to be ncthirg wanting. The country IL
crossed and recrossed by a net work of
lakes and ttreams. which afford the lum-
herman a means of transpor ing his logs 70
tho settlements snd the mills. Millions
and millions of feet Of lumber go over TIE
East Outlet dam and down the keunebec
every season. While other millions are borne
bv the Penobscot and IT'S branches.
In the fall the crews go ID the localities
which are 10 be operated on during the
winter, and live till spring in little world
of their own. They are div under
tbrse heads-the sgsmpers, the choppers
and the transfers. The swsmpers build
the roads and dams, the choppers fell the
trees, and the teamsters haul the logs 10 the
banks of the streams, where they are piled
in readiness to be sent down in the spring.
After the ice gee, ont come, the great
spring drive. The logs, eici one of which
has the owners private mark cut INFO IL.
are rolled into the steam, now swollen by
the melting of the winters SNOW, and their
long Journey is begun. Down the stream
90 the logs. floating slowly along The De I'd
water, plugging over fall and hurrying
through the rapid. Tne drivers fol'os
item, giving those which become stta- dsd
on the shore a new start, and breaking,
often at the risk of their lives the isms
which are sure to form. On the lakes which
have 70 be Gro SD the logs are refted. iowed
aetosA 70 he outlet, and agsin turned loose,
To 90 s-iuu. on their impetuous voyage. An
apra at4s CAL Il a "headworks" is used in
49, A. > on
Of a raft, on which is rude but strong log
espstan. and usually shanty in which the
men eat and sleep. The "hesdsorks" Is
anchored in any desired place, an after
he drive has passed it is left till the next
year. Ca Moosehesi the rats are towed
scross by steamers.
The river drivers insignia Of officeis the
caut-dog and his ruler is the boss driver,
whose authority is analogous to that of the
cs ptsin of ship. Logs belonging TO many
different owners go charging down many
uale streams to tie main rivers, down
hieh they journey 10 company. As they
approach civilization and the mills they are
collected 10 boom, and assorted Each
owner here takes bis own AID those for
miles further down stream are again sent
on their vsv.
During tie summer prospect tors go 10 the
forest. timber suitable for commercial pur
poses is located aud the tracts surveyed.
In the autumn bst'esux of provisions, the
greater bulk consisting OF pork, beans,
flour aad molssses, are sent 20 the loggir g
camps and another campaign against the
forest is begun. LumceriDg g hard, con-
,inuous work--{rom suurise ill dark, day
sf,er day-but hardy, manly life, wi,hal ;
and the men enjoy it ard return to their
free life in the woods alsdly-
The roads made by the srsmpers serve
their purpose in the winter, when the Snow
lies deep sni level under the evergreen
trees, but in sumner they become simply
rails through the forest, most impossible
and used arly b, the deer ard moose. so
tco. many of the streams which are raging
torrents when the logs are rolled into them
degenerate into laughing brock. which
would hardly fl Dat sick of c9rdwood.-
Forest and Stream.