Re: Back on Subject DV Area
Posted by wyethia2 on 10/30/09

Not sure about mining but at the same time, a lot of logging was done with steam donkeys (steam powered drums pulling cables) and log skids. The idea was to pull the logs along the ground with the cables. If the ground was rocky or it was a long pull they would often create log skids to make it easier. There several methods of construction, but in my area the skids were usually parallel peeled logs placed on the ground and kept in place with rock chocks or with notched wood cross pieces underneath. the logs were greased to reduce friction. the grease was dragged along the skid in a wood sledge called a"pig", and a worker would slop the grease onto the skid. Job title of this worker was "pig f***er" No kidding. Honest. The steam donkey itself was either moved on rails, or the cables were used to winch it through the woods, depending on the era and where you were. If the later, it would sit on a large sledge made out of logs. Needless to say, they tried to get everything they could before moving. I imagine in mining similar sledges and winching could be used to move heavy stuff. Roads were graded with horses or mules and a grader or Fresno scraper unless too rocky in which case dynamite, picks and shovels were used first. a good explantaion of steam donkeys is found at the Camp 2 website

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