that wasn’t that long ago involving the challenges loggers
faced every day to earn their wages. Remember this the
next time you think your job is Demanding.
Before chainsaws were invented, the logging industry in the
United States & Canada was a seriously challenging occupation and
We are only talking about 125 years ago. In the Pacific
Northwest there were forests full of monster trees and cutting
them down was done by hand. A friend sent me these photos and
I had to share them with You.
Look At the length of the two-man hand saw and heavy duty axes they used to drop these tremendous trees. It is almost inconceivable to think of cutting a tree this size with a hand saw.
The Work required very strong men (and horses) working long days for minimal pay. Could you imagine doing this to earn a living?
After a tree was finally felled it took a week or more to cut
it up into sections that could be managed (somehow) and
transported by train to a lumber Yard.
it up into sections that could be managed (somehow) and
transported by train to a lumber Yard.
Maneuvering The logs down the mountain to the train was
a complex job. I didn’t do any research on this,
but I would be willing to bet that many men lost their
lives doing this dangerous work. One slip and a hunk of
wood as big as a hotel is rolling your way!
The other question that begs an answer is how did they
a complex job. I didn’t do any research on this,
but I would be willing to bet that many men lost their
lives doing this dangerous work. One slip and a hunk of
wood as big as a hotel is rolling your way!
The other question that begs an answer is how did they
get those logs onto the flatbeds of that Train?
Hollowed Out logs became the company’s mobile office. Can you imagine stacking such logs to build a log home? Two courses would Produce a 30′ ceiling. Maybe that’s why it was easier to Hollow out a Tree.
A Long time before anyone ever thought of a
“mobile home or RV” Hollowed out logs were also used to
house and feed the logging Crews.
We Are accustomed to our modern conveniences like electricity and gasoline powered chainsaws, and it is always such a Mind-boggling experience to see how such monumental tasks were Performed before these conveniences appeared on the Scene.
That hard work and ingenuity is what built America but somewhere after the 60s it was lost and then once Nixon became president he opened the floodgates from Japan and China with their cheap products,allowed OPEC to control the world oil supply, and got rid of the gold standard so banks could print money 24/7 and so here we are today.
ReplyDeleteI too, yearn for the days when we drove trucks made of hollowed-out logs home to our similarly constructed houses. I wood love to live then.
ReplyDeleteHard work and ingenuity, yes. But I mourn the loss of those tremendous trees.
ReplyDeleteCouldn't the need for lumber have been met without resort to felling Giant Sequoias?
I've seen movies where they loaded the logs onto the train cars.They rolled them down a very gradual decline with the train cars at the bottom.The bottom of the hill had a vertical cliff about 10 ft high where they lowered the logs onto the cars.Still a risky and dangerous feat,but the loggers had a good system.
ReplyDeleteWe have no idea how easy life is for us. Really cool photos, thanks Joe.
ReplyDeleteshame unbridled logging wiped out these magnificent trees. I am not a tree huger by any means but it was a terrible loss. Then we wonder why various groups want to prevent things like this from ever happening again. And they go overboard on both sides of the equation, why can't people just be reasonable?!
ReplyDeleteReally cool photos!
ReplyDelete9:47 check out what's happening to the forests near the tar sands in Canada.
Love these pictures! That was a time when men took pride in their work, provided for their family, loved their country. They weren't looking for handouts!
ReplyDeleteThings have drastically changed, haven't they?
Wow, a great reminder of what this country used to resemble. Can you imagine the obese slobs you see at walmart having to fell huge trees? Pure entertainment.
ReplyDeleteNo, people were not afraid to work back then and neither are they afraid to work now when there is work to be found. Some of the haves are so quick to belittle the have nots. I don't begrudge those who are poor, I look to see what I can' do to be a blessing to someone in need. Have your government officials work toward bringing back the jobs they rushed to send overseas. Tell them that they don't get your vote unless they make that commitment. Then, just maybe the need for food stamps will deminish.
ReplyDelete