The Bowbells tribune. [volume] (Bowbells, Ward Co., N.D.) 1899-1969, 1918-07-19
.PAkE WRITES Of
THE FAR WEST

I'LL IhIl uluI
The Tribune received the follow
ing interesting article from C. R.
Pake. a former resident of Burke
county, but who few months ago
moved to the state of WASHINGTON.
and herewith publish same In full
for the benefit Of Mr.. Pake's friends
here:
Winlock. Wash, July 4, 1918.
Friend stef: Having a little time
this Fourth Of July evening I
thought I would write you q few
lines to let you know how this old
world and myself are getting along
together. Many of our friends re-
quested US to write, but it seems l
cannot get the time to write to all.
y you have space In your valuable
paper for this they may hear from
US through its columns. We are
both well and like this country very
much. haven't been working at
the shipyards for some time. Mrs.
Pake insisted on living there (at
Raymond) where was working.
but l did not think 1t would be- very
much good for her rheumatism az
the town Is built over the tide fiat.
The buildings are all on pilinE
above high tide and all streets are
made OF plank. l have been get
ting as good pay elsewhere. / was
with lumber camp for while
building bungaloes for their en-
ployees. All employees with fam
lilies working for this firm get a
four room bungalow for five dollars
month. They were paying their
carpenters $500 per day, but when
they settled with me they paid me
$500 per day of eight hours. 1 was
by far the Oldest man on the Job.
and I guess they thought was old
and a hard locker and needed it.
which l did. am now doing some
repair work on a mill at this place
(Winlock) 20 miles from Centralia.
This mill is run principallv by slec-
trio power, very little steam being
used. 1t puts out about 100000
feet of lumber in a day of eight
hours. Here l get $500 per day.
Board and room is $500 per week.
and not very good at that. When
l was at the numbering camp paid
$7.36 per week, and l tell you I
never stuck my legs under better
board in my life. also got q good
spring bunk furnished gratis. Now
1t may be little interesting to
some to know how they get the tim
ber off the hills and mountains. Il
has always been a wonder to me.
but since / have seen It done. II IA
now a wonder that anyone would
ever conceive the idea. I will give
q brief sketch of how they do It.
They run railroad up the favines,
and they have what they call.
donkey engine. They carry from
500 to 1000 feet of heavy cable be-
sides much light cable. The engine
Is made fast to heavy timbers con
structed something like "a stone
boat, but somewhat heavier. the
runners being about so feet long
and two feet wide. The engine il
not very large, but Is very powerful.
1t mas two places on which the cable
winds, or from which it unwinds> "a
the case may be. There is a way
made down the hill like trough by
placing logs end to end and ;, then
logs on the sides forming a trough.
Then there is a heavy iron block
and pulley made fast to a tree and
the cable through that and made
iast to the log pulled to the trough
before mentioned, and by the Use. OF
a second pulley it is pulled to the
landing. AS the heavy cable pulls
the log down the light cable pulls q
heavy cable back. Now one would
have to see to believe the power
there Is in one of those engines.
When they are pulling a log. q tree
SIX or eight inches through is not in
their way for they smash It down
as easily as you would break down
briar BUSH. There is much more
l could tell you about this. but will
tell you In my next letter. They
mad celebration and dance here
yesterday. I watched them dance
= few minutes, and the music was
hne. There was one old fellow
to beat seven of kind.
spinning around like a tor. He
was bald as an eagle and sweating
IKE a horse. His old bald head
ghstened like peeled onion, and l.
Sou OAu 40cZcE, you must
think this is your last chance. And
Oy the way I wish to ask Jim Beck
of north Of town to pardon me for
accusing him of swiping my jar Of
peach sauce. thought got my
information from good authority
(Dave Landis) but learned later #
was the fellow who swiped Stutz-
mans citrons and thought they were
watermelons. don't want to mem
Ion any names because Ray Shoff
s a mighty good fellow and l think
! lot OF him, and would rather bor-
'ow q dollar and half from $ him
md Jim Beck than to lose. their
Prices here on every !,
hing are about the same as in North ID
Dakota unless it would be berrdea.
Strawberries were $3.50 per cass. !,
There have been Sc carloads shipped
rom Centralia. Long distance
postage stamps are selling TOR three
;ents apiece. Best regards to all.
= s.hhr