Grass Valley telegraph., 1854-03-09
The Lumber Trade.


Next after mining, in Importance, stunds
the lumber trade of Nevada county. The su-
perior quality of the pine timber in the mid
die range of the Sierra Nevadas enables our
mills to compete successfully With imported
lumber from the Atlantic SIDE even under
the present onerous expense of placing it ii
tie markets Of Sacramento aud Marysviile-
equaling, Oh many descriptions, the retai
price at the points OF manufacture Under
fhe opeTation Of The prohibitory tariff, impos
ed by laDd transportation Of thirtyfoar L
seventy miles, there can bo very little conpe
tition in mountain lumber in the lower mar
kets for the supply is regulated by the nun
bei of teams engaged in the regular freight
trade, portion only of which take return
freights Of lumber.
Were it not for the rapidly increasing de-
mand for lumber in the mountains. for build
ing and farming purposes, but few mills could
be sustained: but under the operation of cir.
cumstances tending measurably to render the
mineral districts in the foot hills, INDEPEN-
DENT of the city of San Francisco for every
description Of supplies, other than groceries
and clothing; the Saw Mills of this county
have been doing remunerative business, and
new machinery for numbering is now in pro-
cess of erection in many localities
The product of lumber in the town of
Grass Valley is at this time about 10000
feet per week, none of the mills running at
night. The capacity of the mills now run
ming, and being erected, is equal to 100000
per month, full time: to which those of Ne
vada township are able to add like quanti-
ty. With the access to the San Francisco
market, which the Sacramento Railroad, and
Marysville Plank Road will give us, our
mountain mills can compete with those upon
the coast, upon their own ground, with the
up-country demand for lee-way, without for
eign competitors
The Winchester MILL situated on Wolf
Creek a little south of the village, is the most
extensive and complete of the various estab-
lishments of Nevada county, engaged in the
manufacture of lumber. It's engine is sixty
horse power-and gives motion to an upright
saw on the mulay principle, and large cir
cular. In addition is a Woodwork Planning
machine, capable of turning out five to eight
thousand feet of tongued and grooved floor
ing, of excellent quality. Shingle Machine,
and powerful Lathe for every description
of iron turning, screw cutting, &c. &c. The
works of this company will be completed the
present season, by the addition of the quartz
machinery, and will be among the most
noticeable attractions for citizens and stran-
gers.
Another Woodwork machine, the first in
this county, is attached to the Mount George
mill, a mile and half, north-easterly from
Grass Valley; and still another is being erect
ed, at the new Saw Mill of Col. Dibble, on
Mud Flat, midway between Grass Valley and
Nevada Mcssrs. Tibbals and Wheeler. sue
cessors in the management of the new Col
lins mill, (Manhattan Company are putting
up a fine Saw Mill, which will be ready to
start in few weeks
The prices of lumber at this place rule at
$50 per NJ at the mills for common descrip-
tions, and $50 per m for No. 1, flooring At
Nevada, we understand the rates have gone
up to S350S4O, under large local demand
for building and mining purposes. The Marys-
vile Plank Road project, now regarded as
sure, will undoubtedly carry up the price to
$40 at all the mills. Extensive preparations
arc making for brick and other buildings in
this place. to keep pace with the ready up
ward progress of Grass Valley; and as we
said, the lumber trade is becoming more and
more en- important element in the business
operations of this county, second only to the
mines, which are here as extensive and as
productive as in any other portion of the
State, while the cost of living and the home
comforts, are quite satisfactory to, and with
in the control of all classes.