The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1933-07-07

when he stopped, again standing be-
fore her, saying, "Those are a few
Of the things I'd do until dug up
more to do" she looked away into the
sunset, altering through the naked
tops Of maple and birch and beech
and her eyes misted.
''I'm glad you're looking for hard
job, John Steele I" she said calmly. II
think think Pm going to de-
pend on you from now on"
He laughed then. as man will who
Is coming out of fright.
"I'll do my BEST" he said.
Now when young man, wholly
mad, Is out to show what he can do.
and who has had an opportunity of dis
playing his capacities dangled before
his eyes tantalizingly for a day that
seemed like week, he Is bound to go
fast, once started.
Ellen Richards new boss went like
the wind, like fire, like wild horse !;
by day he drove his crews; by night
he sat in the Office at camp or In town
and laid plans for further driving.
The winters operation had been con-
fined to long, narrow ravine into
which, because of the contour of the
country, steel could not be laid at
justified expense. The haul was along
the bottom of this sharp depression
to it's lower end and thence up hill,
where a tow-team worked every hour
getting loads to the top. From there
the sleighs doubled back on the high
land, paralleling the first part of the
haul to reach the landing.
Over three miles, 1t was, and at one
point the steel came within forty rods
of the rim of the ravine.
ave should be dumping right there!"
John exclaimed to Saunders when he
saw the place.
yeah. But we don't haul by air.
plane yet" the foreman growled.
John said no more but his mind was
busy. In the mill-yard was an old
steam loader, long discarded. 1t was
not in bad shape, and three days later
it was in the woods; men were build
ing road through the deepening snow
straight up the side of that pot-hole
and on to the adjacent steel. The JAM
mer was set down, skidded to the brink
of the steep pitch and cable bent to
the drum. Teams left off the long
journey by iced roads, took their
sleighs down the pitch to the skid
ways, brought them, loaded, to the
foot of the incline, unlocked and came
up ahead while the power of the
Rapids steam engine snaked the loads
to the top.
The tow-team was liberated for the
haul; each sleigh was able to move an
extra thousand day; costs were cut.
Daily the size of the decks at the
new landing increased; log production
was stepping up; fundamental short
coming was being overcome, and as he
stood on the third afternoon following
the initiation of his new plan, John
muttered tightly.
&c. see what I'm wound on,
Tom! See what I'm wound on, YETI"
Yes, the Richards operation had new
life, new vigor as long as John had his
fingers on each phase, but man can't
be in more than one place at time.
He had had the train crew with him
from the beginning and did not need
to worry about getting the best out of
what equipment he had there. Tucker,
the roadmaster, was spry enough,
eager enough, it seemed, but there
were times when John felt that he
could not wholly trust the man.
He won Jack TAFT, the barn boss,
as stalwart friend by sitting up
through one bitter night to help min
lister to a sick horse. The horse died,
but it's distress had not been Johns
primary motive in going without sleep.
He needed the staunch support Of his
men, as any executive needs the faith
and loyalty of those at his command.
But the uphill pull commenced to
show progress. Forty thousand day,
John must put to the mill to keep the
band-saw fed. He began to do better
than this; by holiday time the reserve
decked in the yard had crept up a
trifle; two-day cut was there, wait
ing for an emergency; a three, enough
for four days.
Not time, yet, for long breath, but
time to let yourself hope trifle.
q. show you what I'm wound
on!" he growled between set teeth as
he watched load going on to the
deck instead of directly into the hot
pond.
Not time, yet, for a long breath,
though. The night Waterman at the
mill reported that in making his
rounds an unidentified skulker had run
out of the locomotive stall. A wrench
was found, dropped in the doorway,
and John put on a special man to
guard Tiny's old relic, their only hope
Three days later, running for one OF
the stiff grades with four loads of logs
bound for Kampfest, Tiny Temple
looked back to see a car leave the
rails, to see the splintered ends OF
ties pop up through the snow, to see
the car take the ditch and go over be.
fore he could stop.
Wrecking tools were in Shoestring
and it was necessary to make the run
in for jacks and replacers. They got
the car back on and the track repaired.
but day was lost and the margin OF
safety for the mill shrank instead OF
growing.
Way-Bill and Tiny came to John.
"A brake-beam on that card been
monkeyed with" the conductor said
you could see the fresh wrench marks
on the nuts"
What do you make Of that?"
"They know we're doin' too well
Fixed to spill US to make trouble
They care a On about getting their
logs moved! The Kampfest yards
full, and If we keep on the main line
won't he able TO clean 0uf fho suitch 90