I have not written that one up but here’s another story you might like, about a different group of nomadic traders. [link]
]]>Your clues: “too common” [and] “reviled by some, overused by others,” having a “major impact” leads me to think it was a harvesting tool of some sort. Maybe a massive lumber channelling device used to funnel millions of White Pine logs down Michigan waterways for loading onto the mighty freighters of our Great Lakes destined for use in construction on the more densely populated Eastern seaboard.
I know that the clear cutting methods of that era (prior to thought or principles of conservation or planned reforestation) more certainly left a tremendous impact on Michigan’s natural environment and the future industry of its people that is still being felt today.
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