HISTORY OF WOOD COUNTY



to 4 inches in diameter and about 11 2 inches thick. During the last few
years of
running lumber a machine-turned grub was used quite extensively, but was
not
as satisfactory as the old style.
    "The next step is to build the bottom frame of the crib, which requires
three
planks each 2 inches by 10 inches by 16 feet, and three boards each 1 inch
by 6
inches by 16 feet, which must have three 2-inch holes bored in them at equal
dis-
tances apart, starting at ten inches from the end of each. This is usually
done by
laying the planks on top of each other and the 1 by 6 inch boards on them,
and
boring through all six pieces at one boring. These three planks are the runners,
but are nearly always called 'grub plank' by lumbermen and must be chamfered
(or beveled) on both ends, also boxed out around the hole to the depth of
about
one inch and four or five inches square to receive the head of the grub so
as to keep
it as nearly flush as possible with the face of the grub plank.
   The next thing is to put the grubs in the grub planks, then space them
apart
the distance between the holes in the 'tie boards' (the 1-inch by 6-inch
already
bored), and slip the tie-boards to place by entering the tops of the grubs
in the
holes of the boards and pushing it down until it rests on the grub plank,
thereby
holding the grub planks an equal distance apart. The three tie-boards crosswise
of the grub planks finish the frame (bottom) of the crib. The first course
of lumber
is laid crosswise of the crib, the same way the cross-ties run, filling in
between
them and one 10- or 12-inch board put outside the grubs on each end to fill
out
the space the grub sits in from the end of the plank. These boards are called
'flush-boards,' but nine out of ten raftsmen called them 'slush-boards.'
The second
course is laid the reverse of this one, and so on until the required depth
of courses
is obtained, always leaving the last course crossways of the grub plank.
   "The next thing is to put on the 'witch-planks,' (or binding planks)
which are
three in number and bored to fit the tops of the grubs that project above
the crib
and are slipped down over the grubs onto the last course of lumber and firmly
wedged there-this is the make-up of a crib of lumber.
   "The next step is to take seven of these cribs and form them in a
'rapids-piece,'
which is done in the following manner: Fasten seven of the cribs together
in a
string, holding them together with small ropes, or other means, having all
grub
and witch or binding planks running up and down stream in direction. Having
done this and got the seven cribs in as perfect line as possible, leaving
about three
or for inches between each crib, it is ready for the couplings, which are
usually
2 by 10 inches and 14 to 16 feet long which are laid along each side of the
seven
cribs and bored to fit down over the grubs, which couple the cribs in one
string,
16 inches wide by 112 inches or 14 feet long, It is always necessary to use
two
thicknesses of these planks on each side of the piece and never break joints
over
the space between cribs.
   "The next thing is the placing of the head and tail-blocks, which
are 6 inches
by 10 inches by 16 feet long, the head-block being bored to fit crossways
the three
foremost grubs of the piece, and serving three purposes: First, as a breakwater
in going over dams and through rapids; second, for fastening the front end
of the
spring poles, and third, as a support to balance the oar stem on. The tail-blocks
answer also for balancing the oar stem when tied up in strong currents and
acts as



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