The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1909-04-07
LUNBERJACK QUITS
MICHIGAN WOODS
PICTURESQUE CHARACTER DIS
APPEARS WITH DEsTRUc.
TIoN OF TIMBER OF
WOLVERINE STATE. ~.

Millerburg, Mich, April 1.-THE day
Of the picturesque mackinaw clad and
brilliantly sashed lumberiack of the
old pine forests is past, as far as this
section Of the state is concerned.
When he reigned, hardwood timber was
held in contempt, and hemlock, now a
handy substitute for pine In many
ways, was scorned.
But, like the timber he is associated
with, the beautiful wood which gave
Michigan prestige among lumber pro-
ducing states, he has nearly disap-
peared.
In his place one finds today young
fellows from the farms Of southern
Michigan and northern Ohio or In
diana, husky young men, too, but with
none of the traditions Of the old-timer
and with but little of his skill in
handling timber. Occasionally they
seek to initiate him by going on a ca
rouse after a spell in camp, but even
such an outburst is but a feeble imi-
tation of the "real thing" Most Of their
earnings gi with regularity back to
the farm home, as a close observer Of
postof1ce and express money order
sales after q camp pay day shows.
Old Timers Spent Little in Camp.
Your old-timer would enter q camp
in the fall, draw scarcely any wages
save perhaps running little account
at the "van" or camp store, for tobacco
and clothes, finally emerged from his
winters labor when the snow is leav-
ing In the spring, with a "heer' suffi-
cient for generous spree,
But now every camp foreman has to
keep a book of orders handy and
spends many an hour writing times"
or orders on the company for which
he Is working, In payment for labor.
One hardly ever sees an order for
over $40. many being for such small
amounts as Sc or 81, while in the days
of the past orders for from $3.50 to
| 5000 were common.
The boys of today are more partic-
ular In their tastes and are handled
carefully, Camps are fairly we'll con-
structed and "chuck" is exceptionally
good, Fresh meat is a staple not
the rarity 1t once was.
Skilled Men Scarce Now.
Skilled men with the eanthook, q
combination of lever and tongs for
han0IlnR logs ia ING use Oh WnAch
certain dexterfty must be acquired
through practice. are scarce. as tn
deed are skilled men In all the branches
of numbering. In trying to get com-
petent and homogeneous crew, one
| foreman relates that he had three
crews constantly employed, "One crew
coming. enc crew working and one
crew going" for some time before he
was satisfied with It's makeup.
Wages this winter have been about
S28 per month and Ftfound" of course
weather conditions have been excel
llent for working In the wcoda. cutting
the trees and skidded the laga, but .
lack OF cold weather and scarcity ei
snow have added to numbering some.
thing of the thrill of o game of chance
Many time this winter have the
crews gone to work at midnight anC
hauled until moan to avoid cutting III
the ice roads which a warm sun haC
softened, and the lumberman wondeN
anxioualy whether he will set all hi
logs to the mill Or whether thousand
OF feet win be left in the woods Il
rot and check. or cause him a larg'
extra expense TO get them converted
into lumber by use Of portable mill