The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-09-28


great firm OF Morrison & DAILY had
fnr MANY years carried on extensive
logging operations IN the wilderness
Now a, last. in the early eighties.
they reached the end Of their hold
snrs. Another winter would finish
the cut.
AT this 1uncture Mr.. DAILY called to
him John Railway. man whom he
knew to possess extensive experience.
a little capital. and u desire for more
CT both.
Railway" said he when The two
round themselves alone in the mill
orlice, I'VE expect to cut this year
some flrty millions. which VIII finish
our pine holdings IN the Saginaw
waters. Most OF this timber lies over
In the Crooked Lake District, and that
we expect to put in ourselves. We
own, however. five million on the
Cass Branch. which we would like TO
log on contract. Would you care to
take the job?"
Pow much a thousand DO you
Eve?. asked Railway.
-Four dollars replied the lumber
man.
ri look at st." replied the 1obber.
So Railway got the descriptions"
and a little map divided into town
ships. sections. and quarter sections.
and went out to look at it. He search
ed until he found a blaze on a
tree, the marking on which indicated
it as the corner of a. section. From
this corner the boundary lines were
bIazed at right angles in either direc-
don. Railway followed the blazed
lines. Thus he was able accurately
10 locate isolated .'forties (forty
acres). eighties" quarter sections,
and sections in a primevai wilderness
inc feat, however, required consider
able woodcraft. an exact sense OF d.
rection, and a pocket compass.
These resources were still further
drawn upon for the next task. Rad
way tramped the woods, hills, and
valleys TO determine the most prac-
teal route over which to build
logging road from the standing tim
her to the shores Of Cass Branch.
he round IT TO be an affair or some
puzzleD1ent The pines stood on a.
country rolling with hills. deep with
pot-holes, 1t became necessary to
dodge in and out, here and there, be-
tween the knobs. around and through
the swamps, still keeping. however,
IN the same general direction. and
preserving always the requisite level
or down-grade. Railway had no want
age point from which to survey the
country A city man would promptly
nave lost himself in the tangle; but
the woodsnan emerged at last on the
banks of a stream. leaving behind
him a meandering trail OF clipped
trees.
III take It." said he to DAILY.
DAILY now proceeded to drive a sharp
bargain WITH MIN.
Customarily a jobber is paid q. GER
tain proportion of the agreed price
as each stage OF the work Is COM
pierea. DAILY objected to this method
of procedure.
You see. Hallway" he explained,
TITS our last season in the country.
Wnen this lot Is IN, we want to pull
up stakes. SO We can't take any
chances on not getting that timber
in. If you don't finish Your job, 1t
keeps us here another season. There
cant be no doubt, therefore. that you
finish your job. In other words, we
can't take any chances. If you start
the thing. you've got to carry II way
through.
u think j can. Mr.. DAILY" the job
Der assured him.
For that reason" went on DAILY.
1--WE object TO paying YOU as the work
progresses. We've got to have a
guarantee that YOU don't quit on us.
and tnat those logs NIL be driven
down the branch as far as the river
In time TO catch our drive. Therefore
I'm going to make you a good price
per thousand but payable only when
the logs are delivered to our river
men"
Railway, with his usual mental at
titude of one anxious to justify the
other man. ended by seeing only his
employers argument. He did not per-
ceire that the latter's proposition in
troduced into the transaction a gamh
ling clement II became possible for
Morrlson a. DAILY to get a certain
amount of work, short of absolute
completion, done for nothing.
All this was in August. Railway,
who was good, practical woodsman.
set about the job Immediately. He
gathered crew, established camp.
Through the country he had already
blazed on his former trip.
Railways task was not merely to
level out and ballast the siv feet OF a
roaa-bed already constructed. but to
cut way for five miles through the
Enbrollen wilderness. The way had
moreover to be not less than twenty
five feet wide, needed to be absolute
~ level and free from any kind of
distractions. and required in the
swamps liberal ballasting with poles,
called corduroys. Not only must the
growth be removed. but the roots
must be cut out. and the inequalities
of the ground levelled or filled up.
Reflect further that 1.adway had but
brief time at his disrosal.-but a
few months at most.-and You will
then be IN a position to gauge the
first difficulties of those the Ameri-
can pioneer expects to encounter as
matter of course.
The jobber of course pushed his
roads as rapidly as possible, but was
greatly Handicapped by lack Of men.
Winter set in early and surprised
him with several of the smaller
branches vet to finish. The main
line. however, was done.
A, intervals squares were Gu.
alongside. Jnthem two long timhers or
skids, We're laid andiron-wise for the
reception of the piles OF logs which
would be dragged from the fallen
trees. They were called sslaways.
Then. finally. the seasons cut be-
gan.
The men who We're to fell the trees