n6 



FORESTRY AND IRRIGATION 



March 



hangs over their heads like a beetling 

 cliff. Prying and twisting with their 

 peavies, they detect the key-log by its 

 position and its tension and rigidity 

 under the tremendous strain from the 

 rear. They may pry it loose, or cut it 

 out with axe or saw, or blow it out with 

 dynamite, depending on the obstinacy of 

 the jam and the amount of danger at- 

 tendant. The jam is a treacherous 

 thing. It may shift of itself and melt 

 away without a moment's warning, or 

 it may hang for weeks, defying skill and 

 dynamite. Sometimes at the first blow 

 of the axe on the key-log the over- 

 strained stick parts instantly, and the 

 whole jam leaps for ward at once, taxing 

 every resource of the men to escape de- 

 struction. 



Again, they may succeed repeatedly in 

 starting the tangle, and each time be 

 disappointed to see it lock fast more 

 hopelessly than before. Patiently they 

 pick out single logs from along the 

 shores and set them adrift, working 

 their way upstream and leaving a nar- 

 nowbody of logs in the middle, extend- 

 ing from the key-log to the body of the 

 jam. Then the dams are opened at full 



head, with the hope that the sudden 

 impact will crumble up the resistance and 

 force everything past the obstacle. 



If the jam is in a gorge the men are 

 lowered from the cliffs by ropes to do 

 their work, in order that they may be 

 hauled out of harm's way the instant 

 the mass begins to move, since they can 

 have no other avenue of escape. 



Thus, day after day and week after 

 week they work their \vay downstream 

 until the last rapid is negotiated safely, 

 and the last bend of the river passed, and 

 the sorting gap comes into sight, with 

 the white smoke floating lazily up in the 

 spring sunshine from the burners at the 

 mills below. The drive is in and every- 

 body is happy , not excepting the owners. 



The sorting gap is a kind of clearing 

 house for logs. The several drives are 

 held in one great boom, from which the 

 desired quantity can be released as 

 needed daily at the various mills. Other 

 booms extend downstream in such fash- 

 ion that as a log comes along and is 

 recognized by its marks it is guided by 

 men armed with pike-poles into the en- 

 trance which will take it to the owner's 

 mill. If a mistake is made the sealer 



THE SORTING GAP (MICHIGAN). 



