Logging and fishing were the primary means of making a living in this neck of the woods, back in the good old days.
The fishing vessel, BCP 45 is housed in our Maritime Heritage Centre and was given national prominence when the Bank of Canada used its image on the back of the $5 bill between 1973 to 1986. This vessel was a typical seiner for the decades from 1930 to 1970. Most of the work was done by hand, setting the net, brailing the fish into the hold and tackling all the other tasks involved in operating the boat. It was efficiently & successfully operated by 5 crew members.
During the days of big timber, two fallers worked together to take down big trees, 6-10 feet in diameter, by chopping out the undercut with axes, establishing the back cut with a long crosscut saw and then driving steel wedges with sledge hammers to tip the tree over. Two men, with some hand tools, falling large trees, by the sweat of their brows.
The workers made their wages and the employers reaped their handsome financial rewards.
It is with some “taxpayer” dismay that I drive by 7+ yellow clad city employees, working on our main drag repaving small diamond shaped patches around each manhole cover. I am not saying the job doesn’t need to be done but making the observation that it seems like “one heck of a lot of workers” for that particular job. I’d be interested in knowing the hourly rate this maintenance work is costing.
Is it considered an efficient use of tax dollars?
This is not a criticism of the folks doing the task but a question for the managers and financial planners of the operation.
D. McGillis
Campbell River