That goes without saying."
"How many firms drive logs on this stream?"
"Ten," replied Orde, without hesitation.
"How many men do they employ?"
"Driving?" asked Orde.
"Driving."
"About five hundred; a few more or less."
"Now suppose," Newmark leaned forward impressively, "suppose a firm
should be organised to drive ALL the logs on the river. Suppose it
improved the river with necessary piers, dams, and all the rest of
it, so that the driving would be easier. Couldn't it drive with
less than five hundred men, and couldn't it save money on the cost
of driving?"
"It might," agreed Orde.
"You know the conditions here. If such a firm should be organised
and should offer to drive the logs for these ten firmsaat so much
a thousand, do you suppose it would get the business?"
"It would depend on the driving firm," said Orde. "You see, mill
men have got to have their logs. They can't afford to take chances.
It wouldn't pay."
"Then that's all right," agreed Newmark, with a gleam of
satisfaction across his thin face. "Would you form a partnership
with me having such an object in view?"
Orde threw back his head and laughed with genuine amusement.
"I guess you don't realise the situation," said he.
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