68 REDWOOD LUMBERING. 



rectly or indirectly from fifteen to twenty men each. The 

 wages for men working at the mills, either lumber, shingle 

 or shake, depend entirely upon the work they are fitted for, 

 and the ability to perform it. " There is no soft berth around 

 a saw-mill," is an old saying among men that have ever had 

 any experience in the business. The saying will apply with 

 equal force to any department of labor in the manufacturing 

 of lumber, from the tree to its pile in the yard. It is there- 

 fore very difficult for millmen to secure employees adapted 

 to the work, who have the physical strength and natural 

 genius combined to continue long in their service. When 

 one man is found that can stand the wear and tear upon 

 him, five will prove to be failures. Hence, when a crew of 

 men is made up which gives satisfaction, it will not be 

 broken for the sake of a few dollars per month in wages. It 

 is well known that lumbermen pay the highest wages, for 

 competent men in their separate callings, of all employers on 

 the Pacific Coast. There may be an occasional " off " year, 

 when the lumber market is dead, and the product will not 

 pay a profit to owners, temporarily, when a reduction of per- 

 haps ten per cent, is a necessity to keep the mill running ; 

 but take it for seasons together for a term of years, and the 

 millman's or the logger's employees command wages far above 

 the average of workers at other trades. And there is no good 

 reason why they should not, for the labor is hard and re- 

 quires good judgment as well. The head sawyer, engineer, 

 head planer and filer command salaries ranging from $90 to 

 $100 per month. The different responsible positions filled, 

 from the gang-edger clown ; command from $40 to $80. In 

 each case board and lodging are included. 



