" To cut forty million feet, even in these latter days
of improvements then unknown, would be a task to strain to the
utmost every resource of energy, pluck, equipment and organisation.
In 1880-81 the operators on the river laughed good-humouredly over
an evident madness.
Nevertheless Orde accomplished the task. To be sure he was largely
helped by a favourable winter. The cold weather came early and
continued late. Freezing preceded the snow, which was deep enough
for good travoying and to assure abundant freshet water in the
spring, but not too deep to interfere with the work. Orde increased
his woods force; and, contrary to his custom, he drove them
mercilessly. He was that winter his own walking-boss, and lived
constantly in the woods. The Rough Red had charge of the banking,
where his aggressive, brutal personality kept the rollways free from
congestion. For congestion there means delay in unloading the
sleighs; and that in turn means a drag in the woods work near the
skidways at the other end of the line. Tom North and Tim Nolan and
Johnny Sims and Jim Denning were foremen back in the forest. Every
one had an idea, more or less vague, that the Old Fellow had his
back to the wall.
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