Benson Lumber Mill and Benson Log Rafts
Third annual Scots and Masons Box Lunch on a Monster Log Raft- San Diego, Cal April 7, 1928- © Lee Passmore 426
In 1906, Simon Benson, a prominent timber magnate based in Portland, pioneered the development of log rafts, as depicted in the accompanying image. While not the first to raft logs to market, Benson distinguished himself by creating an ocean-worthy raft capable of reliably transporting vast quantities—literally "millions of feet" at once.
Motivated by the surging demand for lumber in the flourishing city of San Diego, California, Benson devised these log rafts to sidestep the exorbitant costs associated with railroad and ocean barge transportation along the Pacific Coast. Designing his own blueprint, Benson entrusted John A. Festabend with overseeing the construction of cigar-shaped rafts, assembled in the tranquil waters of Wallace Slough, near Clatskanie.
The construction process commenced with the creation of a floating wooden "cradle," reminiscent of the frame of a large sailing ship. A floating derrick systematically lifted logs into the cradle over a span of four to seven weeks. While logs of varying sizes were transported, the inclusion of a substantial volume of tree-length logs provided the raft with the requisite strength and stability for navigating the Columbia River bar and the open ocean. Massive chains played a pivotal role in securing the raft, with one running lengthwise through the center, additional ones encircling the raft every fifteen to twenty feet, and more connecting the chains strategically throughout the structure.
Upon completion, one side of the cradle was removed, and the raft was "kicked out," allowing it to free-float and flatten out in the water. This action further tightened the circle chains, enhancing their strength. Typically, these rafts transported around 4 to 6 million feet of logs, measuring approximately 800 to 1000 feet in length, 55 feet in width, and 35 feet in thickness from top to bottom, with a draft depth ranging from 26 to 28 feet. Holding the entire structure together was an impressive 175 to 250 tons of chain.
Benson's rafts embarked on the 1,100-mile journey to San Diego during the summer, reaching his sawmill approximately 15 days after departing Clatskanie. The rafts proved immensely successful, with 120 Benson rafts making the journey from the Columbia River to San Diego between 1906 and 1941. Impressively, only four were lost due to ocean storms or fires. More often than not, the rafts were "deck loaded" with processed lumber like shingles, fence posts, poles, and spurs to maximize profits. Despite the remarkable success, Simon Benson quickly outgrew the venture, divesting all his holdings in Clatskanie and San Diego between 1909 and 1911.
Motivated by the surging demand for lumber in the flourishing city of San Diego, California, Benson devised these log rafts to sidestep the exorbitant costs associated with railroad and ocean barge transportation along the Pacific Coast. Designing his own blueprint, Benson entrusted John A. Festabend with overseeing the construction of cigar-shaped rafts, assembled in the tranquil waters of Wallace Slough, near Clatskanie.
The construction process commenced with the creation of a floating wooden "cradle," reminiscent of the frame of a large sailing ship. A floating derrick systematically lifted logs into the cradle over a span of four to seven weeks. While logs of varying sizes were transported, the inclusion of a substantial volume of tree-length logs provided the raft with the requisite strength and stability for navigating the Columbia River bar and the open ocean. Massive chains played a pivotal role in securing the raft, with one running lengthwise through the center, additional ones encircling the raft every fifteen to twenty feet, and more connecting the chains strategically throughout the structure.
Upon completion, one side of the cradle was removed, and the raft was "kicked out," allowing it to free-float and flatten out in the water. This action further tightened the circle chains, enhancing their strength. Typically, these rafts transported around 4 to 6 million feet of logs, measuring approximately 800 to 1000 feet in length, 55 feet in width, and 35 feet in thickness from top to bottom, with a draft depth ranging from 26 to 28 feet. Holding the entire structure together was an impressive 175 to 250 tons of chain.
Benson's rafts embarked on the 1,100-mile journey to San Diego during the summer, reaching his sawmill approximately 15 days after departing Clatskanie. The rafts proved immensely successful, with 120 Benson rafts making the journey from the Columbia River to San Diego between 1906 and 1941. Impressively, only four were lost due to ocean storms or fires. More often than not, the rafts were "deck loaded" with processed lumber like shingles, fence posts, poles, and spurs to maximize profits. Despite the remarkable success, Simon Benson quickly outgrew the venture, divesting all his holdings in Clatskanie and San Diego between 1909 and 1911.
Benson Lumber Co Monster Log Raft in Ocean off Point Loma- © Lee Passmore Photo San Diego, Cal
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Low Tide - 4pm- Benson Lumber Co San Diego Cal- Thursday, Oct 2, 1913
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Tugboat Bahada with her crew. Sadly, this tug sunk while hauling one of Benson's log rafts south to San Diego in 1926. It's thought that the ships boiler exploded with most of the crew asleep. All hands were lost, nine men. Read more about the sinking here: https://tinyurl.com/kjd9y9md
Another example of Lee Passmore photographs being made into colorized versions of postcards.
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Benson Lumber Co Monster Log Raft in Ocean off Point Loma- © Lee Passmore Photo- San Diego, Cal
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Towing in log raft containing 4,500,000 feet for saw mills of San Diego, Cal. - © Lee Passmore
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Group of 4 Log Rafts containing 20,000,000 feet of lumber. Benson Lumber Co, San Diego Cal- © Lee Passmore - Photo taken - Saturday, Sept 19, 1908
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Tug Hercules towing a monster log raft (Benson raft) in san Diego Bay- 130 © Lee Passmore
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