Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1856-07-09

|
ken to pieces, and the persons in it were
thrown out. The youngest lad, aged years,
| had his shoulder d1slocated and his head and
face much bruised, and Mr.. Brenner received
| some severe bruises about the limbs. His
other son and Mr.. Thompson escaped with but
slight injuries. The horse was not found un-
til the following day.
| LUMBERMEN's sMEETING.--In pursuance of pub
| lie notice previously given, a large and respec-
table meeting of the lumbermen of Clearfield,
Centre and Elk counties, convened in theCourt
House in the borough of Clearfeld, on the 18th
! inst. On motion, Hon. JAS. L. LEONARD, was
| VIM. Porter, Vice Presidents and James Ir-
win and ID. W. Moore Secretaries. The OBJ
| lect of the meeting having been stated, W. A.
! aiitce, Esq, addressed the meeting in favor
OF legislative action to prevent the floating of
| loose logs, &c, and concluded by moving that
| there be committee of seven appointed, to
| report proceedings expressive of the sense of
this meeting. Whereupon the chair appoint
| ed the following named gentlemen said COM
mittee, William Stewart, Daniel Rhoads, and
Dr. Jas. Irwin of Centre, and VIM. Powell, a.
b. Shaw and Josiah Wilhelm, of Cearfield,
and Robert Rothrock of Elk. On motion the
meeting adjourned until half past six O'Clock.
HALF PAST SIX, p. M.--The meeting re-as-
sembled, when, on motion, Hon. G. r. Bar
rett addressed the meeting urging the impor
tance OF united action on the part of all per-
sons interested in he prosperity of Clearfeld
county, to the end that the rights of our lum-
bermen may be fairly protected. This, he
thought, could be accomplished without any
injury to the rights, or without demanding of
others anything more than our lumbermen are
compelled to do. When the Judge concluded
the committee reported the following pream-
bic and resolutions, which were unanimously
adopted
WHEREAS, it has been fairly demonstrated
that the floating of loose saw logs on the Sus-
quehanna river and its tributaries and running
rats IN the usual way, cannot be carried on at
;hc same time. One or the other must cease.
and 1t becomes question only, Of whether the
free and uninterrupted navigation OF these val
liable highways shall continue open for the en-
Joyment of the mass of the people, or be mon
opoiized by a few. For more than half CEN
tury the Susquehanna has been navigated bv
quantities of boards and square timber, well
RATED in rafts, mayigated by skillful pilots and
men sufficient to command them so as to have
due regard to the safety of the prosperity of
each other. Millions of dollars worth of lum-
Der has thus found its way to market. No one
claimed the right, nor would he have been
suffered to cast his lumber loose into the
stream, to obstruct the lawful and fair business
carried on upon it. Upon the truth that
highway so long and protitably used would con-
tInue to be enjoyed, more than three hundred
saw mills have been erected in Clcarfield coun-
ty, besides a large number in Centre and Elk
counties, and are now in successful operation
which II log floating is continued, must cease
to do business and prove utterly valueleSs. A
very large amount of capital has been invested
in the erection of saw mills that will be entire
ly lost. A large population have been brought
here, accustomed to the business of manufac- 4
turing lumber, and relying upon it for the sup
port of themselves and familiess who will be
driven out of employment, and compelled, in
poverty, to seek home elsewhere. Hundreds
OF instances occur where men, in the hope of
continuing in laborious, but honest calling
have invested all tAey are worth in a saw mill
and timber, who, if rafting must cease, will be
ruined. Must all this be borne by the resi-
dents of the numbering region those who
pay the taxes, and have supported the country,
from its infancy to the present. merely to graf
ify a few timber owners, who have no interest
in common with US The lumbermen ask no
monopOly-po protection of any kind that
they do not award to others. They are COM
PEELED TO raft their lumber, place pilots and
men upon each raft and so navigate the
stream as TO allow others to do the same
with common degreee of safety. All they
ask in return is that those who choose to
navigate it with round logs, be compelled
10 fait them together, and navigate the stream
Ill tne same way. There is no hardship in this,
ana oy pursuing that course the interests of
al parties VIII be protected equally. On the
delaware, and on the Mississippi river, logs
arc tai.eo together, and why not upon the
ouS4uehanna The booms constructed for