16
In the woods, the oxen and the horses were replaced by the "steam donkey" which used a steam engine connected to a number of winches and hooked to a "spar" tree to haul logs out of the bush to roads where trucks could pick them up.17
Alex McKee and Thomas Edwards moving gas donkey engine on a sleigh.1928
Mission, British Columbia
18
Like the truck the donkey has evolved from being steam driven to being driven with a gasoline engine. This one used the engine of a Model T Ford.19
Albert Thomas' donkey.1938
Mission, British Columbia
20
This one, in 1938, has a more powerful engine and could do more work. Here it is set up next to a spar tree.21
Bill Thomas on donkey sleigh.1948
Hatzic, Mission, British Columbia
22
In this picture you can see the lines going from the donkey to the spar tree, with a log that has just been hauled in to the "cold deck" dangling from the "choker". This is a stationary spar. It is a tree that has been de-limbed and rigged for pulling timber from the woods. Some spar trees are also used for loading logging trucks.23
K. and B. Timber Co. Ltd. machinery, steel spar, gravel truck, and heel boom loader.1970
Mission, British Columbia
24
Here is a modern steel spar tree, it is mounted on tracks and has its own donkey engine. The advantage of this equipment is that it is reusable and portable. Compare this with the traditional spar tree that was usually a live tree, literally rooted to the spot.25
Steel spar parked at home on Ruddick property in east Maple Ridge (next to Mission).1970
Mission, British Columbia
26
This picture shows the steel spar tree down and ready to be moved. You can see the various lines it uses as well as the diesel powered donkey engine.27
Loading logs with a grapple loader.August, 1992
Mission Tree Farm
28
An alternative to loading logs with the spar tree is the grapple-loader, pictured here loading a logging truck with logs from the log deck. This is now the most common way of loading logs.29
Thomas mill yard with A frame.1950
Hatzic, Mission, British Columbia
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