ii8 A RAFT PILOT'S LOG 



lumber for Saint Louis, was close behind us when we 

 got coupled up below the Clinton bridge, and it was 

 soon apparent that she was gaining on us. 



As the water was at a low stage and only one rapids 

 boat, the "Prescott," at LeClaire to assist over the 

 rapids, each captain wanted to reach LeClaire first and 

 go on over with the "Prescott's" aid, as the second 

 arrival would have a long delay. 



The "LeClaire Belle" had fourteen-inch cylinders 

 and the "Van Sant" only twelve-inch while both had 

 the same stroke - four-foot. Not only did the "Belle" 

 have twenty percent more power, but she was a much 

 larger boat and we made every effort to keep ahead. By 

 the time we were at Camanche we were side by each. 

 And a few times the crews had to pry our boom logs 

 loose from the lumber. Both boats were doing their best 

 and so were their pilots, but there was no swearing or 

 calling of ugly names -it was all as quiet and orderly 

 as a well conducted funeral. That stretch of river then 

 was wide enough for two full rafts to run abreast all the 

 way to LeClaire. Neither crowded the other on shore 

 or out on a bar; it was a fair test in every way and we 

 were loser. It took over an hour before the "Van Sants" 

 raft cleared ours at the head of Steamboat Slough. 

 When we reached the LeClaire Foundry the "Van 

 Sant" and the "Prescott" were starting over the rapids. 

 We had to land and wait until the next day at noon. 



While a lumber raft has more feet in it and weighs 

 more than a log raft of the same length and width, it 

 is easier to tow, because it is of uniform depth and the 

 cribs and strings are coupled up close together, while 

 the logs being of different sizes, the bottom of a log 

 raft is very uneven and rough. 



It takes longer to get a lumber raft under way or to 



