The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1899-09-08
Pacific Coast Logging Methods.

Logging methods have undergone q
great change during the past five
years, and cattle, then commonly used
In majority of the camps, have been
superseded by the donkey" engine
and the logging locomotive. In q
number OF the camps heavy logging
horses are still much in demand, but
usually the horses are supplemented
by steam power and all the latest up
to-date appliances. Logging oxen
have been practically relegated to the
rear and are now to be found in but
few camps in the entire Pacific North
west. On the other hand. the machine
shops and foundries have been taxed
to their utmost to supply the demand
for logging engines, and this in turn
has created an enormous demand for
wire rope and cable and all other ac-
cessories made necessary by the heavy
timber of this section. Several
donkey" engines are frequently used
IN the same camp, being located from
half to three-quarters of mile apart,
from which wire cables are run into
the timber in distances varying from a
quarter OF mile to a mile, the logs
being hauled over skid roads, coming
the entire distarce in twelve to fifteen
minutes. These engines will pull
from 5000 to 10000 feet at load.
In other localities the logging loco
motive Is used exclusively, reducing
the laborious work involved, increas-
ing the output, and putting the whole
business upon the systematic basis OF
modern railroad operations. To the
uninitiated or to those who are not
familiar with present methods, visit
to the logging camps of the coast
would be a revelation indeed, especial
ly to the eastern lumbermen. Timber,
climate and surroundings are entirely
different. In the white pine states the
logging season begins as soon as the
first heavy frost of winter occurs, and
ends with the breaking up of the ice
in the rivers and streams. Much de-
pends on the first frost. If the ground
is covered with snow before the freeze
up, the foundation is bad, especially
in the swamps, and the roads will be
bad all winter. On the other hand,
the absence OF snow is not felt very
much, because the roads can be easily
sprlnkied from day 10 day so long as
the frost is severe. The timber is
small and easily handled, and horses
are universally used. "l)riving" is
easily accomplished, too, on account
of the small logs. On the Pacific
coast, however, things are reversed.
Cold weather and snow constitute OBJ
stacles not easily overcome. Instead
of ice roads the skid road offers the
foundation, the use Of skid oil supplies
the absence of ice and the donkey
engine furnishes the motive power
from the woods to the landing. 30,
too, the jack supercedes the peavy, on
account of the size of the logs, and
the logging locomotive is rapidly tax
ing the place of the river driver. There
is no such definition as the "logging
season." All seasons look alike to the
Pacific coast logger. The work in the
woods goes on merrlly every month in
the year, except when it SHOWS, which
is rarity, and the logs are snaked
over the hills as rapidly in December
as they are In July.
But the future will see many
changes in logging, as the forests
brlDuLdry 10 Gut Hills 0uu NdtOAo a. .
being cut away. The hills and valleys
at present inaccessible will be pene-
trated by logging railroads. and there
will be multitude of mountain saw
mills where there is now none. In
other words, the timber for the large
mills will be taken to destination by
rail, and the small mills will be cutting
lumber in the mountains, TO be fumed
to the planning mills in the valleys by
the railroad track. Many logs, too,
will be flumed, but the bulk OF the IN
put will OF necessity be hauled by rail.
In the meanwhile, however, the tim
Der accessible will be cut more closely
than it has been in the past, the tend
ency being both in the woods and
mills, to exercise greater care and less
waste, which is q gratifying state OF
or D.o;Go T,,uahor Trade Jos1r.