and 1880, they were of much more utility than the Conemaugh ever was, for on them were floated to the eastern markets hundreds of millions of feet of valuable timber, the proceeds from the sale of which built up thousands of happy homes and laid the foundation of the prosperity of Northern Cambria.
The predominating timber prosperity Northern Cambria and adjoining districts of Clearfield and Indiana counties was white pine. The principal uses to which this species of wood is put are for lumber, shingles, and spars or masts for ships. Pine cut in the summer months would be speedily devoured by grubs, or worms, called sawyers; hence, it became necessary to cut the timber in the fall and early winter months. Formerly, the principal part of the timber intended for lumber was cut down, and hewn on three sides, the other side being "barked" with a peeling ax. A tree was hewn forty, sixty, or eighty feet-according to height--straight on two sides, that the timber might be lashed or pinned together into rafts. On the other side it was hewn to suit the crooks if there were any. It was then hauled to a landing, generally on a dam, put into the water, a number of pieces placed side by side, several poles laid across them through which auger holes were bored down into the timbers, and pins of wood securely driven in. A rudder made of a long pole fastened on a pivot was fisted at the front and rear of the raft for the purpose of guiding it through the water. A shanty in which the cooking was done and which sheltered the raftsmen was then built upon it, and the raft was ready for high water, which
generally occurred in the spring and fall of the year.
“Spars" were cut the length a tree would permit--eighty or one hundred feet--with some of them four feet and even larger at the base. As it is necessary to know if a mast is sound throughout, a simple expedient was used to determine that important point. Close to one end of the spar a man placed his ear, while another struck the other end with a heavy hammer or sledge. If the stick was solid throughout a sharp sound was heard by the person listening, while if the stroke was not heard, or but a dull thud was the result, the timber was condemned as unfit for use. Spars were made into rafts, sometimes along with square timber. The job of hauling them to the water's edge was often a very laborious and expensive one, many men and teams being required for the undertaking.
In later years much timber was floated down in sawlogs, the logs being cut and peeled in the woods. It is remarkable
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