The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1910-11-17
vas a full fledged member.

was full fedged member.
A vastly more interesting side OF
shanty life is that which deals with
the work carried on in an up-to-date
logging camp and which l must
confess my ability to deal with in
no very interesting or intelligent
manner, great many preliminary
details must be attended to before
actual logging operations commence.
Miles of road must be cut and grad
ed at an enormous expense. Skid
ways on which the logs are piled
must be laid and in many cases,
where the logs are hauled to the
mill by steam, track must be laid
for the purpose.
Very little logging is done until
the snow falls, then the logs are
hauled as fast as they are cut. The
men usually work in crews OF four.
Two sawyers who fell the trees and
cut them into logs, one swamper
whose duty it is to clear roads and
cut off the branches and the skidder
who hauls the logs to the nearest
skidway.
More or less skill is required for
the successful performance of these
duties The skidder must not only
be an exper.. teamster, but must be
ever on the alert for dangers to both
himself and team. He must meet
and overcome difficulties unknown
to teamsters in the busy cities. He
must be capable of guiding his team
over the most dangerous ground
and under the most trying circum-
stances. and must follow the saw
yers wherever they go.
I The less agreeable duty of the
swamper is one which requires con-
siderable activity and no little expe-
rience. He must not only prepare
the logs after they are felled, but
must do the claiming and otherwise
assist the skidder. He often finds
it necessary to spend much time and
!, considerable labor in order tn al
i none of the logs may be left behind
| for the skidder's tally must agree
/ with that of the sawyers.
II Inmy opinion, the most important
| work connected with the logging
7 business is that performed by the
sawyers. An inexperienced sawyer
!. Lwould Judge, would waste enough
8 in one day to pay his wages for I
8 month. The saw, however, is usual
/. ly in charge Of an old timer" who's
= long experience has taught him how
J. to get the most out of every tree
: Often he has a green horn for
o partner and when such is the case i
n is needless to say he is seldom t
n blame when a mistake does occur
r The dangers encountered at this par
o ticular work are many. Often il
+ falling, trees become lodged an
g can only be removed at considerabl
IS risk. Broken branches will com
# crashing down when least expected
These widow-makers,' as they ar
n called, are probably the most dang
Is erous, as they are not only hard t
d locate, but most difficult to remov'
= Horses are used chiefly in tn
st woods though in some cases oxe
y are still employed and are declare
t, by many to be better fitted for th
work than their more nimble-foote
rivals. Where the main haul is
Of long one four-horse teams are use
r. and it is not an uncommon thing
d, see loads fifteen and twenty fe'
at high and containing from fifty t
n. seventy-fve logs. In order to max
ly this possible the roads must be kel
~ in perfect condition. This is accom-
lp plished by the aid of two very in
It, portant factors in the logging wood
e, the road monkey and the sprinkle
lg The duties of the former consist
lg making daily trips over the road, r
ID moving any obstacles and makir
er all necessary repairs. The latte
er employed chiefly at night, consis
~ of large tank which is hauled ov
IL the road for the purpose of foodir
1t the rut SO as to preserve anicy surfa
no over which the largest load may
ne hau,ed without difficulty.
Sc One of the greatest features of Il
n logging woods is the food furnish'
/ the men. Even to this day I ney