Historic Hood River
Mill A Flume
4-26-2016
Notes
I find the engineering of log flumes fascinating. Alf Shepler apparently did too, because he carefully described this image:
Lumber flume from Mill “A”. 1100′ half pitch from mill, 1400′ to feeder flume. Flume 3 1/2 miles long, averaging 60′ high.
It’s hard for me to understand how a log plunging down that incline was redirected to the more horizontal section without ripping apart the flume.
Rawhyde
Is this flume running at low-flow? Seems there would be more water in it to float logs. That incline must have been awfully attractive to the local kids…
Buzz
Not an expert on flumes, but logs would have ripped apart a flume like this. This flume was designed to transport rough cut dimesioned lumber that was shorter than logs and not nearly as heavy. Old timers knew what they were doing.
L.E.
I wasn’t all that fascinated with flumes until you started showing multiple photos of mills and flumes here at HHR.
I grew up with the Broughton flume running along the hillside and kind of took it for granted unless there was a break and water was running down the hillside.
When all the local talk was about Lassie and a cougar riding on the flume, I took more notice.
Now I realize what an engineering feat many of them were.
As I understand, Mill A flume was cants of lumber which emptied into Drano Lake. That is why there was a mill at the top of the hill.
I think Alf Shepler was involved with timber on the big White Salmon River, so perhaps he was contemplating building a flume.
Kenn
Definately a lumber flume, not for logs. As LE says, no reason for mill A if the logs could be sent down without cutting. Cants only, as at Broughton flume. There were earlier pictures on this site under "Viento" that show Mill A lumber coming across from Drano.
John McLucas
My Uncle George Knox (later County Assessor) used to ride a cant down that flume..
(Remember USS Liberty)