FLOATING AND RAFTING 379 



The Drive on Large Streams} — The driving problems on por- 

 tions of the route are often similar to those on small streams, 

 but in general the difficulties incident to the transport of logs 

 are not so great. 



The channel is wider, with longer stretches of smooth water, 

 and the greater volume of timber annually passing downstream 

 makes it practicable to improve the channel to a far greater 

 degree than is feasible with small streams. Fewer men in pro- 

 portion to the amount of timber handled and the distance cov- 

 ered are required, and under normal circumstances the expense 

 per thousand feet for labor is less. A large portion of the 

 driving work on the average stream consists in the prevention 

 of jams at curves, on sand bars, at rocky narrows and similar 

 places, and "picking rear" after the main drive has passed. On 

 many large streams the banks for a portion of the distance may 

 be low, so that logs can float out of the channel into sloughs or 

 over land inundated during flood time, and the drivers must 

 keep their booms in good condition to prevent this and to keep 

 the logs moving. 



Crews are divided into squads, under subforemen, and are 

 stationed at danger points along the stream. These crews must 

 do much of their work from bateaux or by standing on logs, 

 because of the width of the banks. In place of "alligators" and 

 "headworks" powerful side wheel, end wheel or screw tugs are 

 employed for the transport of large quantities of logs across 

 lakes, or down streams where it is necessary to confine the 

 logs in booms. 



When the head of the drive reaches the first sorting gap, a 

 crew of men begins sorting and this continues during the 

 summer and fall until the logs are all assorted, the water fails 

 or ice closes the river. If no ill luck has attended the drive the 

 last logs are usually down by October first. 



The drive on the upper Connecticut River originating on the 

 Wild Ammonoosuc in New Hampshire and extending to Bellows 

 Falls (17 miles on the Ammonoosuc and 93 miles on the Connect- 

 icut River) begins about the first of April and lasts from twenty- 

 1 See page 363. 



