Then when enough logs are gathered for the drive, the dam is opened and the captive waters flood away rapidly and carry the logs to the mill.

On larger streams and rivers, the logs are often fastened together in rafts.

Expert log drivers who ride on the tipping, rolling logs in the raging river, guide the logs on these drives.
On arrival at the sawmill, the logs are reduced to lumber.

Many different kinds of saws are used in this work.

One of the most efficient is the circular saw which performs rapid work.