Log driving facts for kids

Log driving was a way to move cut-down trees, called logs, from forests to places where they could be processed, like sawmills. Imagine huge numbers of logs floating down a river, guided by brave workers! This method was very important for the timber industry for many years, especially before good roads and railways were common.

What Was Log Driving?

Log driving meant floating logs down rivers. It was a cheap and effective way to transport large amounts of wood from forests, often deep in the wilderness, to towns and mills. Once trees were cut down by loggers, they were rolled into a river. The river's current would then carry them downstream. This practice was common in many parts of the world where there were forests and suitable rivers, like North America, Scandinavia, and Central Europe.

Why Was Log Driving Used?

Before modern transportation like trucks and trains, moving heavy logs was a huge challenge. Rivers offered a natural highway. Log driving allowed timber companies to get wood from remote forests to sawmills and markets. It was much cheaper than trying to drag logs over land, especially before steam engines and powerful vehicles existed. This method helped build many towns and industries that relied on wood.

How Log Driving Worked

Log driving was a complex operation that needed careful planning and hard work.

Getting Logs into the River

First, loggers would cut down trees during the winter. They would often stack the logs on frozen riverbanks. When the spring thaw came, the ice would melt, and the rivers would swell with water. This high water was perfect for floating the logs. Workers would then roll the logs into the rushing water.

Guiding the Logs Downstream

Once in the river, the logs would float together, forming a giant raft of wood. Log drivers, also known as river drivers or lumberjacks, would follow the logs. They used long poles with hooks, called pike poles or pickaroons, to steer the logs. Their job was to keep the logs moving and prevent them from getting stuck. They had to be very skilled and agile, often jumping from log to log.

Breaking Up Log Jams

One of the biggest challenges was a "log jam." This happened when too many logs piled up and got stuck against rocks, river bends, or bridges. A log jam could block the entire river and stop the flow of wood. Breaking a log jam was extremely dangerous. Drivers had to carefully remove key logs to release the jam, often risking their lives as thousands of logs could suddenly break free and rush downstream.

Tools of the Log Driver

Log drivers used special tools to manage the logs.

• Pike pole: A long pole with a sharp metal point and a hook at the end. It was used to push, pull, and guide logs.
• Pickaroon: Similar to a pike pole but shorter, often with a wooden handle and a metal head with a sharp point and a hook. It was used for handling individual logs.
• Cant hook: A tool with a handle and a movable hook, used for rolling and turning logs on land or in shallow water.
• Peavey: Similar to a cant hook, but with a sharp spike at the end of the handle, useful for digging into logs.

Dangers of Log Driving

Log driving was one of the most dangerous jobs.

• Drowning: Drivers often fell into the cold, fast-moving water. The heavy boots and clothing made it hard to swim.
• Crushing: Getting caught between logs or crushed by shifting piles of wood was a constant risk.
• Hypothermia: Working in cold water for long hours could lead to dangerous drops in body temperature.
• Log Jams: Breaking up jams was especially risky, as the sudden release of logs could sweep drivers away.

The Decline of Log Driving

Log driving was very common from the 19th century into the mid-20th century. However, it slowly became less common.

• New Transportation: The development of better roads, powerful trucks, and railways made it easier and safer to transport logs over land.
• Environmental Concerns: Log driving could damage riverbeds and banks. Logs could also sink, polluting the water.
• Safety: The high number of accidents and deaths among log drivers led to calls for safer methods.
• River Dams: Many rivers were dammed for hydroelectric power or flood control, which made log driving impossible.

Today, log driving is rarely practiced. It remains an important part of history, showing how people once moved natural resources using the power of nature.

Images for kids

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  Log drivers at Klarälven in Sweden.

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  A sawmill with the floating logs in Kotka, Finland.

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  Log jam at Berlin, New Hampshire.

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  Log driver working for the Brown Company in New Hampshire.

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  River drivers in Germany with a crude pike pole the Germans call a rafters' hook (Flößerhaken, as in rafting logs), probably one or two pickaroons and a ring dog for rolling logs over.