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*Original Article*
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UNITY, WIS., March 29. I arrived here on Friday, and found that breaking the landings had but just begun. Wind from the north makes things rather lively for us- The Popple, being a somewhat sluggish stream, the logs are blown up stream as fast as we punch them down. This is the south branch of the Popple. The dam has been shut down, but as there is but little water coming in and as the country is very flat', the water backs up for nearly three miles, and it takes a large quantity of it to fill up. At the rate it now comes in, it will take a week longer. If we should have a two days' rise, we might shoot the logs down out of the south fork without difficulty. Driving has commenced on Bock creek and the dams are full of new logs. Men are engaged in rolling in all along Black river, below and perhaps above Neillsville. There is a small rise in the river, but not enough to take the logs down, even when dislodged from the bank. What is needed is a rain from three days to a week's duration, which would make things lively for the loggers. Neillsville is projecting a railroad to Merrillan, a distance of fifteen miles. It has been surveyed, and nothing remains to do except to get stock enough subscribed to start the undertaking. Logs are left on the skidways every where. Some are trying the tramway plan, but it will never do here. The ground is so soft that cattle would sink in up to their bellies anywhere. It might do in the country about Hatfield, but never will here. Wild geese and pigeons are making their appearance here. Mr. Ayer, the gentleman who is running this camp, says he will stay here on the creek until next August, waiting for high water. He has about ten men in camp and about twenty more engaged to come when the water does, and will rush the logs down at a great rate. He is driving for *Mr. W. W. Crosby, chiefly, but will also take Mr. Bussell's driving off his hands. C. P. C. |
