Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-03-24
AN OUTLET MADE.
Work Of Cutting Channel to
Big Ice Jam Finished.
No Obstacle to Now Prevent Its
Going Out to the Sea.
A Visit TO the Scene Of Operations, Monday
by Journal Man.

Inc channel in the ice below the
Swan Island jam has been Il great UNI
dertaking. and il has been accom-
plished under many adverse condi-
tons. To the weather. perhaps, can
be given the palm for having con-
trlVed every possible means in its
power TO prevent the men from work
ing. and in every way hindering the
progress of the cutting.
With favorable conditions. the work
could have been accomplished in much
less time. But. with snow storms, and
transforms. freezes ana tha@a. there
have been no end of difficulties pre-
scented.
After n good days work Sunday,
and 4 better day. still. Monday. the
foot Of the jam has been reached. and
there is now q good outlet for the jam
Of ice. logs ana debris to the sea.
\ Journal reporter visited the scene.
Monday morning. in company with
'stbi Ky " i-t NIfIftt. W 10 1ltS Charge
Of the work. The sun was still low in
the heavens when they arrived at
Harwards station, and in a short
time. We're flying over the frozen roads
in a way to make things rattle. The
heet-f footed horse felt the effects Of the
sharp air and was a puller. and any
one who was not well acquainted
would have failed to distinguish him
from a runaway.
Browns Point was the first place
visited This is about ~ miles above
the Chops, on the west bank of the
river. Directly opposite the channel is
wide. some 600 feet on the average, ex-
tending down to the Chops. where the
This channel is just what is wanted.
and is in the right place, giving plenty
of chance for the escaping ice from
above to pass down.
At the time the reporter reached
there. three men in boat We're seem
acting in a most unusual fashion.
about a quarter of mile down the
river, on the east side of the channel
They appeared to be rocking the boat
as the reckless boys do, previous to an
upset. There proved to be a method
in their madness. however. as the ice
,, Il, In..l
previous night and morning. had
frozen over There was nearly half a
mile of it. mostly on the east side of
the channel, where, it had frozen over
in the lee of the bank there being little
wind there
The boat which was being thus
rocked was a great ice smasher. The
sides We're protected with iron. and
stopped at nothing. The man i'll the
bow had long pole with a hook in it.
ana pulled the craft through the ice
When they had cut away the east side,
they returned up the west border, and
the tide. having been on the ebh for
an hour or more. was we'll made. and
soon the whole mass moved on
After enjoying the hospitality Of J.
L. Brown. who in 1877 and 1873 was q
representative to the Legislature. Il
move was made in the direction of the
jam. Directly north of Browns Point
IS deep bay where the old Bay boom
was hung, before the present ones above
Swan island We're used. 1t is there
that it is intended to corral the logs
as they come down from the jam. and
get them back to the mills at Richmond
and South Gardiner. when the time
comes. Across this long stretch. the
journey. was made by foot. to the place
where the crew of men was at work
cutting and saving away at the ice.
the way the men worked. There seemed
to be a lively interest in the heart of
each one, in their work and it really
didn't appear as if they were working
at all-more as if they were deep in
some game. and each ore was trying to
get there first.
The ice is cut in the same way as
for harvesting. to all practical purposes.
only. of course not into such small sec
tons. The channel is about $50 feet
across, and there are three cuts made,
each piece being about 80 wide, by 10
long. On the west side.'a narrow strip
of three feet is cut out, leaving the great
cakes enough space to work.
On the other side Of the channel di-
rectly opposite. two or three pairs of
horses are ready to take the cakes and
get them started on the way down.
One pair is generally busy at one of the
great cakes which has not been cut
away, pulling away. for dear life. with
a lean on, that. were the cable to break.
would let them forward, postrate up
on their handsome faces.
The men were deeply interested in