Historic Hood River
Irrigation Ditch? Logging Flume?
7-26-2021
Notes
I presumed this was an early irrigation ditch, but the notes on the back indicate it was from Anton Lausmann, an important part of the local logging scene. Could it be part of a lumber flume? I suspect this is obvious to someone who knows what they are looking at.
Anton Lausmann is the subject of the book “Swivel-Chair Logger” about his career in the bookkeeping offices of local logging concerns through the first half of the twentieth century. It’s worth the read if this is an interest of yours.
kmb
Interesting picture, I wonder what the two men are looking at. I know nothing about old logging methods, but the road/path coming down from the upper right, the parallel logs the man on right is sitting on, and the wall on the opposite side lead me to believe this was an area where they would bring logs down the path and roll them into the flume. Whether horses would drag individual logs down the path, or they came on some type of wagon or cart, I don't know. If this were only an irrigation ditch, I don't see the purpose of the logs and wall. Which raises a question: did flumes ever serve dual purposes and deliver water to farming areas?
Bill Seaton
Gee, I miss Buzz on this one. He would have had some interesting comments to add on.
L.E.
I thought the same thing Bill. Buzz and I had a conservation one time here at HHR about the book Swivel-Chair Logger.
He would have an “obvious” observation about this photo.
ArthurB
I like to think Buzz and Charlott are still checking in every morning.
Basaltgrouse
I agree that it look like the head works for a flume. I am not sure if there is enough water to float full size logs but rough sawn lumber or cants maybe. If that is the case then I would think the mill is very close by. The construction looks to be recent since the logs on the right have bark on them. Wish I knew were the destination was. The man on the left has an arm band like in the photos from last week. Perhaps they are just fashion.
nels
Back in the day when men wore long sleeved shirts for just about everything, the cuffs were the first thing to get dirty or worn out. Arm garters could pull the shirt sleeve up to avoid some of the wear and tear and dirt there. Women would sometimes remove the cuff and replace it if the rest of the shirt was still in good condition.
Washing clothing, Fels Naptha soap, running through a ringer, haul it outside in a wicker basket to dry on the clothes line, back in the house, sprinkle with a bottle of starch and roll it up. Place in the frig for a day and then iron. It took me 25 minutes to iron my dad's white shirts. PermaPress was a godsend for women, as was the clothes dryer.
Barbara Parsons
I miss Buzz and Charlott, too.
Jack Sheppard
Water is spilling out of the feeder flume toward the camera and I have no way to judge the fall of that feeder flume or how much water it is delivering. The flume away could be pretty deep and carry a good-size log but perhaps not very fast. I'd guess that there is a mill not very far away, or an additional feed of water.