Notes
This Gifford photogravure of a Benson raft is from a 1912 folio on loan from an HHR reader. Starting in 1906 these seagoing rafts made of Oregon logs fueled a construction boom in Southern California. 120 rafts of logs were shipped from Clatskanie to Benson's mill in San Diego for processing between 1906 and 1941.
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Tags: Benson_raft Gifford logging logs log_raft photogravure
Comments
Was this another business venture of Simon Benson?
nels on 20th June 2019 @ 7:55am
Duh! Wikipedia says it WAS Simon Benson who sent these rafts down to S. California, causing a building boom due to the cheaper wood. But 4 of the 120 rafts broke up, causing hazards on the Pacific. Discussed shipping to China that way as well but never happened. He was a busy man.
nels on 20th June 2019 @ 10:07am
Can you imagine trying to round up all those logs in the ocean if they broke loose?!
nels on 20th June 2019 @ 1:07pm
Lost a barge load of logs in the Gulf of Alaska one winter. Called the insurance company, filed a claim, and told them where they could look for their logs if they wanted to try and salvage them.
Buzz on 20th June 2019 @ 1:28pm