The state herald., 1906-03-16
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Laeenter, Wnsh., Feb. 8, 1905

EDilOh tlbkhID.--N w ueu "fole w
you last june was gong to work at the
same mill where had my log broken,
Dec. go, 1902. my thumb injured Feb. !,
1905. Feb. 81, my thumb was cropped
off, March l3, the bone taken out to the
srist. In July, Aug. and Sept. We had
fine lovely weather in washington. OurI
apple trees were loaded. We sold some
thing over ton Ind have all we can use.
Many were left on the treea and shook
off for the hogs and COWS. Oct 4, was
at the fair in Portland and saw many
wonderful things. Oct. 8, it having ram
ed several days | went to the mill again
took charge OF and overhauled the en-
ready, We started the wheels to rolling.
the l6, we commenced eating ties with
a full crew in the woods and null, 30 men
all told, and we cut on an average OF 800
ties per day and some days HOO and os
high as 1850. The engine Is a Russell
engine. cylinder 10 l3 When | took
charge Dec. 27, 1905 1t was epeeded at
264 revolutions per minute; speeded it
mp to 300. We carry l45 10 ot steam pres
sure. l do my own firing; / put in tie
blocks, sawed from the ends OF ties, IN
the furnace, the last block fila the door,
then take seat in cushioned arm
chair and the water glass, steam gauge,
oil ,aru lnhr;,,tnr all in plaip u,nht frnu
the char, can peel and eat nm apple
between 6Ses. ] have u steam pump
that supplies the boiler, cook house,
steam car that hauls logs. 1 also have
$50 fee, OF hose to attach to the pump in
case OF fire. In one week We burn slabs
enough to keep Holyoke in wood for fu-
ell full year. Some logs that we saw
are 8 to 6 feet in diameter; We have cut
Is ties ont OF one log II feet long, The
eclipse of the moon is on and | must 20
10 bed. Feb. 90, We bsve had plenty of
rain this winter, very little snow. In
the moru,nc tbe nlcht watchman blows
the whistle at six o'clock, that means get
ready for breakfast. breakfast 6:l5 at G:35
get to the engine room, fill tue furnace
with wood, look over the engine, blow
the whistle twice, 10 feet long, for the
men to go 10 the woods, ut $50 Al z
O'Clock short toots OF the whistle for
look out nm golna to start the engine,
pull the throttle and away We 60 with
a cling and roar. 1t rained quite hard
TO day in the timber. Two men iail ;he
tir trees, 3 men saw the trees into logs Il
or - feet long, . men clean out the brush
2 or men take the bark off the side OF
the log that it slides on, called the ride
of the log. Road bullders lay small logs
8 feet apart feet long, called tkid road,
3 teams pull tho logs over these ssids TO
the rail rond. Tho rails Of this road are
sawed timbers ski II or % feet long
laId in notches on larger eklds. 10 to 20
logs and away to the mill and roll them
into a pond and from the pond they are
pulled into the mill. The mon work
mostly in woollen shirts and sometimes
when it rains hardrut they put on jack.
ct or short sicser; sometimes they got
We; as rats. Some days ii rams all day
ana don't wet through a woollen shirt.
The first ten days of Feb. wore fine sun
shiny weather and the farmers were i'm.
proving the time ploWing and puttiug IN
oats. Tho second week IN Feb. we dug
our potatoes, carrots, parsnips md tur
nips; yes, when We want them we 90 in-
to the garden aud get them fresh aud
crisp. Cabbage plaE's set ont late are
now nice aud crisp. We have fine sugur
beots and other varieties. We will soon
gather the root crop to prepare the ground
for new crop. Rose bushes are leaIing
soon we will have flowers in our front
yard. Your readers may bn on tho look.
out for little letter for the HEEALp on
different subject than nny have ever
written Tor publication, work at ergi.
pesring after dropping that kind Of work
81 years wonder why ever quit. Ny
old trade comes in worry convenient at
this time Good night. &C. BRvARp.