Back then lumberjacks would spend most of there time in the water because it was the easiest and fastest way to transport their lumber to the nearest city mills. The only time that they would walk their logs down the river was if the water was too shallow or if there weren't enough log wagons to to carry them down stream. Log wagons were a type of flat rectangle boat that would hold patches of logs in place to prevent a jam if the drivers would run into rapids. This was usually the jobs for children or younger men.
 

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