River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1923-02-08
Powell Recalls Lesson
Of Local Transfers

Mr. Harvey Powell, prominent
banker, learned a valuable lesson
from the old-time teamsters Of Riv-
err Falls who We're employed by his
father on the old farm here back in
the days of Harvey's youth.
In the following communication,
sent to patrons of his banking insti-
tuition, Mr.. Powell points out the an
alogy of some present day farm prob
lens and solutions with teaming in ys
olden day.
Mr.. Powell, in his letter, says:
'In talking with one of our Gus
toners the other day, who felt that he
had not made much progress and who
was inclined to be discouraged where
it seemed to me he had lot to be
thankful for, thought of my old
experience in hauling cordwood thru
a billy country.
Il well remember the good team
sters of those days; old Ped Adams,
a Vemonter; Hank McRory, whose
whisper could be heard mile; the
Collins boys with their Irish brogue
and fat horses; and Heam Hutehins,
whose horses always looked as if
they had just been groomed.
at was an object lesson to me to
see how these men got their loads up
the Hill and over the bare spots with
out hurting the team or having any
excitement.
"Time was taken at the bottom of
the hill for the team to get its
breath. Very often the teamster
went around and patted the horses
and Strengthened out the harness.
The hill was taken in by the eye as
to where the best shedding was in or
der to take advantage of the hard
spots, and then the team was started
up quietly and as big a pull made
as could be made without winding the
horses, and when the time came to
stop the teamster was ready to
jump on the iron dog on the runner
and stop the load where it was so
that there would be no slipping back.
If possible the sled was stopped in
fair place for starting again. Then
the teamster went around and talked
to the horses, pulled the forelocks out
from under the brow band, kicked a
little snow in front of the n-nners
and when the team was ready another
start was made, possibly geeing off
a little or having off little as SEEM
ed best to take advantage of the hill
and so it went by short hauls until
the team got the big load to the top
of the hill without having to unload
or hurt the horses. The good team
ster always did this quietly. The
greenhorns made a lot Of fuss and
fumed around and generally got
stuck, often times making the horses
balk.
"The way our customers who have
got loaded will have to do if they ever
get to the top of the hill, is pust what
good teaamsters did, keep cool, work
hard with both their muscles and
their grains, making little progress
and then stepping on the dog
so that they do not slip back, take
every advantage there is of the situa-
ton, but keep at it and in few years
they will be at the top of the hill. 1t
will be useless for them to take on
more load thinking that they viii
make profits by so doing. They have
all the load they can Garry and it viii
take time and patience and industry
to make the grade.
"The banker who is doing his part
will do some of the patting which is
necessary to encourage the team and
at times may have to jump on the
dog to keep the load from slipping
back, and possibly at times a little
persuading will have to be used OF
one kind and another, but | feel con-
fident that with all of US working to-
gether and each one doing his part,
that few, if any, will not deliver their
loads at the right place in time"