LUMBERING
World’s Fair Load of Logs – 1893 – Ewen, Michigan
Original photo by C. Raven in Ontonagon Historical Society Collection
The largest load of logs ever loaded and hauled on sleighs was loaded near Ewen, Michigan, Sunday, February 26, 1893, by the Nester Estate. Malcom McEachin was foreman of the camp and superintended the loading of the mammoth pile. The sleighs were built by William Elder, and were made of birds-eye maple. The bunks are 18×20 inches, 15 feet long; six foot run, runners seven feet long. The load was composed of fifty logs of white pine and scaled 36,055 feet, and were loaded as follows: In the first tier six logs, in the second eight, in the next three seven each and five, four, three, two and one respectively in the next five. Each tier excepting the top log were securely bound by a one-half inch steel test chain. There were 850 feet of chain which weighed 2,000 pounds. The load measured 30 feet and 3 inches high by 18 feet wide, 18 feet long and weighed 140 tons. The largest log as scaled by John Fordon contained 1205 feet and smallest log 406 feet.
The load was hauled fifty rods by a team weighing about 3,500 pounds. It was shipped to Chicago where it will be a part of the Michigan Exhibit at the World’s Fair. Nine railway cars were required to transport the “World’s Fair Load.” Thousands of people visited the scene of the hauling the few days the high pile remained on the sleighs.
C. Raven, of Ewen, seated behind his team of dogs, with his camera and photographic implements strapped on behind, was one of the first on the ground and secured a good negative of the load, and at once filed application for a copyright with the librarian of congress at Washington. Agents are given liberal commissions on the sale of these views. Address C. Raven, Ewen, Michigan.
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This information appears on the back of one of the original photos by C. Raven, Ewen, Michigan of “The World’s Fair Load” loaded and hauled by the Nester Estate at Ewen, Ontonagon, Co., Michigan.
Horses were believed to be Clydesdales, aged 5 to 6 years. See letter from Charles Willman, Ontonagon Historical Society, November 1966.
Sources:
1. Saginaw Daily Courier, September 25, 1881. Ad. The Chapion, Girant Lightning Stump machine. Good ads for lumbering equipment. Axes (Wetmore, Crecent, Kau Pi, the Wood Chopper’s Own, etc.), coil and haulter chains.
See Correspondence: Mr. Howard Otway, November 23, 1955.
2. Specifications and Drawings of Patents issued from the U.S. Patent Office for October, 1880. No. 233,755 on page 1192-“Machine for rolling and turning logs. William E. Hill, Big Rapids, Michigan, assignor to himself and Alfred B. DeLong, same place. Filed. August 14, 1880. (Model) Drawing on page 331 of section on Drawings.
See DETROIT FREE PRESS – Friday, January 24, 1879, page 3. (2-1/2 columns). Lists mills, board feet of lumber cut, lumber on hand, where lumber comes from, Tittabawassee Boom Company, Shingle trade, etc., etc.
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