Wind mills have been around for centuries need. They are a source of mechanical power, which can be used for many operations, including making electricity, grinding grain and sawing lumber.
Frame saws have been popular for many years, mostly using water power, but getting power from moving water or moving air is similar. Once converted to mechanical energy at the spinning wheel or turning blades, the rest is identical. Obviously, their production rate of about 1 mm per second or two even with a sash gang saw is very slow. It is much faster than a pit saw indeed.
With respect to soaking the logs, is this salt water? If so, we do know that salt has a big effect on drying, including checking and warp. In fact, sailing ship pieces of wood were often soaked to prevent cracking. In WW II, Mortons Salt had a process called Morton Cure that stabilized wood, but they had many lawsuits as the salt encouraged corrosion of metal. So, salt soaked wood needs to use wooden fasteners or non-corrosive metal. Of course, sugar has nothing to do with stress. In fact, soaking a green log that is already full of water has little effect, unless there are bacteria in the water.