Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-07-10
THE REAR END
Of the Kennebec Drive Is Now
This Side of Carratunk.
Unusually Short Season. Owing to
Good Water and HustIing.
But One Large Lot Hung Up-Big Cut Ex'
pected. Next Season.

SkowheSan, Me. July 9.-(SpeciaD.-l
The rear drive of the Kennebec drive
passed over Carratunk falls, yesterday,
and will be in this vicinity in less than
two weeks. When this part of the lum-
boring business has been finished, the
greater part of the log driving on the
river for this season will have been
drawn to a close. There will be as
usual the customary amount of work
to be done by the river drivers in clear
ing up the jams which have been form
ed but the greater part of the work in
this section will have been done.
The season this year is much short
er than usual, owing to the rush of the
mill owners for their lumber. In some
parts of the river larger crews than
usual have been at work that the logs
might be placed at the disposal of the
mill men. There are at the present
time 1875 men and eight horses at work
on the rear drive. Their work will
have been finished up inside of a
month.
Taken all in all the season has been
very favorable for the lumbermen. The
pitch of water now and during the first
part of the season has been very good
indeed. 1t is not SO high, however that
the lumbermen have been bothered in
the least. In fact it is now necessary
for the lumbermen to work with the
water taken from the lake. The work
is row all being dore through the as
siSt2nCe of the water let out of the
lake at certain times in the day.
There is water enough in the lake so
that the lumbermen have not the
slightest trouble through low water
and on the other hand the industries
along the river will not be affected in
any way by the water which is usually
saved up until later in the season. be-
ing drawn off to assist the lumbermen
in their work.
The men who have been at work
in this section have had several small
jams to clear away but the size of the
jams is nothing in comparison with
those that are sometimes formed. 1t
was necessary, yesterday forenoon, for
the drivers to use explosives in break
ing up some Of the small jams formed
below the bridge at this place.
| It is estimated that the cut, this year,
| will amount to 100. 900 600 feet. This is
about G0,C00.000 feet more than is usu-
| ally cut. All the timperland owners
are planning to make bigger cuts. next
year. in consequence of the promised
unusually good demand for lumber.
| Nearly all the logs that have been cut
| so far this year have been Heated.
| There is only one large lot that has not
been hoated. one in the Dead River re-
| gion. The logs are the property of the
| Berlin Lumber Co., and in all amount
| 10 something like 100000 feet. These
| were hung up earlier in the season.
They were not started until after the
water had begun TO drop 50 that when
/ the water was down they could not be
| started out into the Kennebec river.
| The present prospect is that they will
| loose nothing in value by being de-
! tanned as the tendency of the price of
I lumber is up and not down. 1t is eSti-
/ mated that the value of timber lands
i has increased SO Is per cent, during
1 the past year, this increase being due
to the demand for lumber.
| one of the peculiaritieS of the river
driving. this year is the uses Of the
patent boom near this place. The boom
is the invention Of an up river lumber
man and is so constructed that it
hangs out into the river rather than
| heing carried in shore by the force of
| the current.
As the result of the easy season for
| the river drivers the cost OF the log
driving has been rather less than
usual Taken all in all it has been
very prosperous season for the lumber
men on the Kennebec.
| There have been but very few fatal
accidents this year. One reason being
that few Jams have been formed and
in consequence the drivers have not
been obliged to take as many risks.
The river drivers while at their work
iattract Just as much attention as they
did wears ago. Hardly a day passes
when A large crowd of men do not
gather at the bridge to see the work OF
the drivers. There is, however lack
of the picturesque, once so notable.
There is now no question that the days
of the red-shirted river drivers are
practically over Once in while a
big strapping fellow in red shirt may
be seen but as a rule the lack Oh req Is
noticeable.
| Instead the drivers are CARRIED IN less
attractive costumes. Instead OF the
long trousers rolled half way to the
knees. the drivers show the effects Oh
,ha Golf fever and are wearing short
trousars and bicycle stockings. In one
,aspcct though the drivers nave not
changed a particle That is IN dong
doubIn the usual amount of work Wheh
| a crowd is around.