

FORESTRY AND IRRIGATION 



January 



runners loose from the clinging ice 

 crystals, but not too far, or the pole 

 will certainly be broken. At a quiet 

 word the big fellows move steadily into 

 the collar, gently at first, tmt increasing 

 their effort as they feel the resistance. 

 Harder and harder they strain, the har- 

 ness creaking and the great muscles of 

 their buttocks ridged and shining. For 

 six seconds they hang motionless; then 

 another quiet word recalls them to pa- 

 rade rest. After a few moments the 

 driver causes them to pull the tongue 

 side wise in the other direction, and 

 again sends them forward. This time 

 intelligence scores. Just as it seems 

 the team should be stopped for fear of 

 discouraging them, there is a squeak- 

 ing, grinding noise as the frost lets go 

 its grip, and the front runners move to 

 the side, following the pole. Immedi- 

 ately the hind runners are wrenched 

 loose, and the whole load moves for- 

 ward, taking a little curve before re- 

 turning to the ice ruts. If the load is 

 very heavy and obstinate or has stood 

 over night, the driver takes a block of 

 wood for a fulcrum and pries up each 

 of the runners in succession with a 

 crowbar, in order to avoid danger of 

 breakage. 



It is almost needless to say that such 

 a load as the large one shown in the first 

 illustration is heavier than any in ordi- 

 nary practice, and was probably made up 

 mostly for the picture. Intense rivalry 

 springs up among the drivers as to 

 which team shall haul the heaviest load 

 of the year, and this results in the haul- 

 ing of some tremendous loads on the 

 ice roads. But woe betide the unlucky 

 team and driver when such an unwieldy 

 mass gets beyond control on a grade. 

 Then the utmost efforts of the team can 

 hardly keep them from being overrun, 

 and both horses and driver have often 

 been injured or crushed to death. 



Once the roads are in good condition, 

 O'Brien keeps the haulers moving 

 briskly. Advantage must be taken of 

 the season, for a January thaw may ruin 

 his road and block the work for a week. 

 So load after load of logs moves down 

 the long grades to the river bank and 

 out upon the ice, there to be rolled up 

 and away to the further end of con- 

 stantly growing orderly piles. Every 

 log is marked with a deeply dented 

 brand in the end, or a mark cut in the 

 bark, or both. The sealer knows within a 

 few thousand feet the amount of lumber 

 which can be cut from the banked logs. 



!' 1 \DV FOR TIU-: IiRIYK. 



