Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-03-30

decided to haul out all the logs and RATS
pelow Curwensytlle and boom the river at
that point to hold back everything above
The work began the latter part of October
Men and teams put to work from Curwens-
Vile to Lock Haven hauled out everything
In the shape of timber
AT Curwensvine great piers We're built in
the river. and trenches arranged behind
them strong enough to hold anything and
everything. The work this boom was
hardly finished before the biggest flood ex-
perienced since 1891 came spon this sec
lion. The river below CurwensNille was
cleared OF everything, and millions OF feet
or logs and square timber got into the
Nilliamspor boom, but all back of Cur
wensville was held fast by the boom. Rats
put IN alongside the upper river came down,
but could not 40 through. The river tiled
not only the bank full. but the bed full. and
the logs came down so fast and plentiful
that they piled the river for q distance OF
three miles. They not only covered the sur
lace, but they piled on top of each other
until the distance above stated was almost
a solid mass
This it was that alarmed the natives. and
made so many willing to sell bottom prop
erty at cut rates this winter and spring
The skill OF the men who constructed the
boom, however, was proved 10 be first--lass
the past week. IL held against all pressure
water, ice, gravity, and is still intact Since
the ice went out the first of the week a
gang of experienced logmen with axes.
canthooks and other driving tools have
been at work opening a channel through
the great mass OF timber They have so
lar opened partial channel but not suf-
ncient for rafting purposes Several hum
dred men will be busily engaged several
weeks breaking the Jam and getting the
logs moving. As long as the natural water
supply keeps up the splash dams will not
be utilized. When that fails the great i'm
proved resources will be brought into
action.
Splash dams are long structures OF heavy
timber built across small stream at some.
point where the surface of the land behind
Is suitable for storing a great body of wa
ter. They are built between two hills on
either SIDE of the stream. and are as solid
In their construction as masonry. In the
middle OF the dam is constructed the gate.
which Is operated by an immense lever.
When the dam is full OF water the gate is
raised and the great volume flows out car
rying along every log in it's path until IL
runs on. When the splash is on. the log
men with the canthooks follow the stream
rolling I'm logs that have been carried eff
into the woods by former splashes those
saddling on trees rocks. &c. and breaking
the small jams formed In eddies bends and
rocky places. These logmen work early and
late, their hours of labor depending upo:1
the state of the weather. They are heavily
dressed. and work waist-deep In the icy
cold water for from twelve to eighteen
hours out Of each twenty-four They are
fed from four to six times daily and paid
from 81 90 to s. per day. according, to their
usefulness. Log driving on the west branch
and its tributaries was for many wears a
great industry, thousands of men being
thus engaged from early spring until the
middle of summer each year. OF late the
industry has not assumed great pronor-
lions, for the reason that most of the lum-
Der In this county is manufactured at the
local mills. The logs in the river this sea-
son are about the last that will be driven
to Williamsport.