When the boom created by the completion of the Pacific Railway was over in 1887, the logs from convenient locations near Vancouver were taken. In the 1880's and 90's, independent loggers migrated up the coast and cut the old growth that was typically a few hundred feet up to half a mile from shore. Distance depended on the quality of trees and ease of skidding or rolling them to the water. Steep slopes were easiest, but most dangerous, and led to erosion later.

Teams of oxen pulled timber to the waters edge or rail lines up until the first world war. By then, Steam Donkeys connected with spar poles had usually replaced the teams of oxen. Logs were moved in the bush on greased-log skid roads. Early tugs towed the logs to markets in Vancouver and around Georgia Strait. In this era, B.C. became known for tall, straight timber suitable for ship masts and flag poles. The Shingle Mill on Powell Lake was operating in 1910.

The 1923 map "Powell Lake" can be viewed on the BC Archives site. It shows very effectively where the timber claims were in the Powell River area.
http://www.bcarchives.gov.bc.ca/cartogr/img_html/dir_1/cm_c478.htm

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