The Savannah morning news., 1902-09-28

known as the Saginaw waters, the
great firm of Morrison & Daily had for
many years carried on extensive log
cling operations in the wilderness.
Now, at last, in the early eighties.
they reached the end of their holdings.
Another winter would finish the cut
At this 1uncture Mr.. Daily called to
him John Railway, a man whom he
knew to possess extensive experience,
a little capital and a desire for more
of both.
Railway" said he, when the two
found themselves alone in the mill of
fee, 1--WE expect to cut this year some
fifty millions, which will finish out
pine holdings in the Saginaw waters.
Most of this timber lies over in the
Crooked Lake district, and that we ex-
pect to put in ourselves. We own, how
ever. five million OH the Cass Branch,
which we would like to log on con-
tract. Would you care to take the job
How much thousand do you
give?" asked Railway.
-Four dollars" replied the lumber
man.
'aTn look at it," replied the jobber.
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 blaze" on tree
the marking on which indicating 1t as
the corner of a section. From TINS
corner the boundary lines were blazed
at right angles in their direction. Rad
way following the blazed lines. Thus
he was able accurately to locate $50
lated "forties" (forty acres), eighties,
quarter sections and sections in a
primeval wilderness. The feat how
ever, required considerable woodcratt,
an exact sense of direction, and
pocket compass.
These resources were still further
drawn upon for the next task. Rad
way tramped the woods, hills and val
leys TO determine the most pracucal
route over which to build logging
road from the standing timber TO the
shores of CaSs Branch. He found II
TO be an affair of some puzzlement.
The pines stood on a country rolling
with hills, deep with pot-holes. 1t be-
came necessary to dodge in and out,
here and there, between the knobs,
around and through the swamps, still
keeping, however, in the same general
direction, and preserving always the
requisite level or down grade. Rad
way had no vantage point from which
to survey the country. A city man
would promptly have lost himself in
the tangle; but the woodsman emerged
at last on the banks of the stream,
leaving behind him a meandering trail
of clipped trees.
TN take it," said he to DAILY.
DAILY now proceeded to drive sharp
bargain with him.
Customarily a jobber is paid a GER
tain proportion of the agreed price IS
each stage of the work is completed.
DAILY objected to this method of proce-
dure.
You see. Railway" he explained,
tits our last season in the country.
When 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. it keeps
us here another season. There can 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 it way
through"
Il think I can, Mr.. DAILY" the job
Der assured him.
For that reason" went on DAILY 1--WE
object to paying you as the work pro-
crosses. We've got to have a gauran-
tee that you don't quit on us, and that
those logs will be driven down the
branch as far as the river in time to
catch our drive. Therefore, I'm going
to make you good price per thou
sand, but payable only when the logs
are delivered to our rivermen."
Railway. with his usual mental atti-
tude of one anxious to justify the 9TH
er man. ended by seeing only his en-
ployer's argument. He did not perceive
that the latter's proposition introduced
into the transaction a gambling ele-
ment. 1t became possible for Morri-
son & DAILY to get a certain amount of
work, short of absolute completion,
done for nothing
All this was in August Radwav who
was good, practical woodsman. set
about the job Immediately. He gath
cred crew, established a camp, and
began at once to cut roads through the
country he had already blazed on his
former trip.
Railways task was not merely to
level out and ballast the six feet of a
road-bed already constructed, but to
cut a way for five miles through the
unbroken wilderness. The way had
moreover to be not less than twenty
a1Ve feet WIDE needed to be absolutely
level and free from any kind of OBJ
structions, and required in the swamps
Aoeral 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 Railway had but a brief time al
MS disposal-but a few months al
most-and you will then be in a posi-
non to gauge the first difficulties OF
those the American pioneer expects to
encounter as a 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
{ 10 finish. The main line, however
was done
AT intervals squares were cut out
alongside. In them two long timbers
or sklds, were laid andironwise Tor the
reception of the piles of logs which
would be dragged from the fallen trees
They were called slxidaways. Their
finally the seasons cut began.
The men who were to fell the trees
Railway distributed along one boun.
dairy of a forty" They We're instruct.
ed to move forward across the forty ir
straight line. Telling every pine tree
over eight inches in diameter. While
the "saw-gangs." three in number pre-.
pared to fell the first trees, other mer
called 'swampers," were busy cuttiue
and clearing of roots narrow little
trails down through the forest from
the pine TO the skidway at the edge Of
the logging road. The trail was per.
haps three feet wide, and marvels OF
smoothness. although no attempt wa,
made to level mere inequalities of tn,
ground. They were called travoy road,
french travois). Down them the logi