Log Slides

 

The image you sent is a newspaper article about logging in West Virginia. It is dated November 3, 1883. The article describes how a timber merchant named Mr. W. H. Overholt has sold his timber on the east side of the Greenbrier River to the St. Lawrence Boom & M'f'g Co. Overholt is to log the timber and deliver it to the river. The article estimates that it will take two or three years to complete the logging operation, as the timber is scattered over a very rough and mountainous country.

The article also describes the challenges of logging in this type of terrain. The timber near the river will be hauled or slidden down the steep mountain sides. The timber farther back will be conveyed to the river by means of "log slides." These slides follow the low places along the hollows and hillsides. When covered with ice, which is the time generally chosen for sliding, the logs pass over them with wonderful velocity. However, the article also notes that log slides can be dangerous, and that injuries and deaths are common.

This article provides a valuable glimpse into the logging industry in West Virginia in the late 19th century. It highlights the challenges of logging in a mountainous region, as well as the dangers associated with the job. The article also provides some insight into the timber merchant's perspective, as he discusses his plans to log his timber and deliver it to the river.

Overall, this article is a valuable source of information about logging in West Virginia in the late 19th century. It is a reminder of the challenges and dangers of this industry, as well as the important role that logging played in the state's economy.

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Log sliding is a method of transporting logs from a forest to a river or other waterway. It involves building a long, sloping trough, or slide, down which the logs can be propelled by gravity. Log slides are typically built in areas with steep terrain, and they can be several miles long.

To slide a log, it is first rolled onto the slide at the top. The log then begins to slide down the trough, picking up speed as it goes. At the bottom of the slide, the log is either deposited into a river or other waterway, or it is caught in a net or other device.

Log sliding is a hazardous activity, and it is often done in the winter when the slides are covered in ice. This helps to reduce the friction between the logs and the slide, allowing them to travel faster. However, the ice also makes the slides more slippery, and it is common for logs to derail or fly off the slide.

Log sliding was a common method of transporting logs in the early 1900s, but it has since been largely replaced by more efficient and safer methods, such as logging trucks and helicopters. However, log sliding is still used in some remote areas where there is no access to roads or other infrastructure.

In the image you provided, the text describes a log sliding operation in the early 1900s. The author notes that the logs are slidden down the steep mountain sides to the river, and that the process is dangerous and often results in injuries or fatalities.

The log is rolled onto the slide at the top (1), and then it slides down the trough (2) to the bottom (3). At the bottom of the slide, the log is either deposited into a river or other waterway (4), or it is caught in a net or other device (5).

I hope this explanation is helpful.