The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1924-02-07
N. BAXTER TELLS Or
hip TO NORTH. WOODS
|us IN Lumber Camps Interesting
and Instructive to States
Chief Executive

Az trim to the lumber camps of
-.hern Maine was most interesting
instructive," said Governor Bax-
raferring to his weeks visit at
lumber camps at Skinner from
..h he recently returned. The
~ composed of the Governor, Sec
arv Gilbert R. Chadbourne, Acting
rest commissioner Neil l.. Violette
State superintendent of Buildings
los G Brown were the guests OF
Forrest H. Colby of the S. d.
rren Company of Westbrook dur
the week.
conditions in the Maine woods
% changed a great deal during the
4 20 years and today, although the
there is rugged, there is a de-
- of comfort unthought of in years
10 by." continued Governor Baxter.
nme Of the larger companies have
no everything possible, for their
nlovees. In these places the camps
kent clean and orderly and the
Nil is ample duu hiioiOooiiiS'
the horses in the woods, their
&c hard but the up-to-date COM
MES have provided proper stables
/ competent hostlers.
Much of the work, however, today
done by sub contractors or job
= h,any of whom are French Can
ans from the Province of Quebec
foreigners from the Slavic States.
ese people do not know how to
20 for themselves or for their ami
lis and life is hard for both. They
"a TO be taught how to live and
TO treat the faithful horses that
rk so hard for them. In one place
raw two new stables equally well
Instructed, one for the company's
rses where everything was clean
dry. and the other, with the same
pipment in a deplorable condition
ERE the poor animals would come in
king with sweat only ito stand
brly blanketed in a wet, dirty place.
sympathy went out to these poor
|mals even more than to the men
kause they, at least, could do some
ne for themselves.
lliouor conditions in the woods OF
line are better than they ever were
ore 1t is seldom that any guam
is brought across the border, due
the county authorities as well as
the detectives that some of the
ger companies employ. The woods
nps of Maine will average well up
III the cleanest towns and cities of
state as far as liquor is concerned.
FLife in the Maine woods in winter
hard at best. To work in zero
hperature in driving wind, hauling
ded pulp and long lumber, taxes
endurance of man and horse. The
We left the wind was blowing for
miles an hour with the temperature
degrees below zero, but the horses
the men went to work in the
ods as usual at daybreak. l do
see how they stand 1t.
I'VE visited some of the camps kept
French Canadians and life is about
simple there as can be imagined
e room with a few hunks, a stove
ID some kitchen tools with absolute
no comforts-not book or news
per, where tho people are up two
|urs before daybreak and go to bed
on after dark. The cost of getting
{ Names annual crop of wood is
avy. Men are injured and horses
r thrown about over stumps and
rs and are driven through places
at seem impossible, but IL all the
mpanies and operators were as con-
ierate of their employees and ami
als as those at Rock Pond Farm,
Pmerset County, the hardships would
reduced to a minimum.
Many people look upon the map Of
alne and imagine that the great
Prthern forests are uninhabited. AS
matter of fact, there are countless
Re roads and trails that form a net
prk OF communication into every
Pok and corner of the woods. These
Pads in winter are. as a rule. in good
Rndition and camps may be found
|ery few miles. found one man
(Venty years old living in a camp
|ght miles from his nearest neigh
Pr paralyzed on one side and using
crlltch, He refuses to leave the
pods had not a dollar in the world
n would freeze and starve to death
less the tote team drivers, who pass
Il camp every day or so. brought him
poo and clothing This man is an
. woodsman with a kindly. patient
(ce' but some day before long the
re team drivers will stop at his
mp and find that he has gone. I
Eyer saw a more desolate place, but
/ came to the door and smilinely
FNed Goodbye as we drove away lnto
e blizzard"