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


LuMBERMEN's MEErING.--In pursuance of pub
lie notice previously given, large and respec-
table meeting of the lumbermen of Clearfeld,
Centre and Elk counties. convened in theCourt
House in the borough of Clearfed, on the 4th
| inst. On motion, Hon. JAS. I. LEONARD, was
appointed President; G. Kratzer Jas. a. Reed,
VIM. Porter, Vice Presidents, and James Ir-
win and d. W. Moore. Secretaries. The OBJ
iect of the meeting having been stated w. A
Wallace, 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 CIearfield,
and Robert Rothrock of Elk. On motion the
meeting adjourned until half past six O'Clock.
| HALF PAST SIX, p. A.--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 the 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, without demanding of
compelled to do. When the Judge concluded
the committee reported the following pream-
| BILE and resolutions, which were unanimously
adopted
| WHEREAS, it has been fairly demonstrated
| that the floating of loose saw logs on the Sus-
quehauna river and its tributaries, and running
RATS in the usual way, cannot be carried on at
| .he same time. One or the other must cease,
and it becomes a question only, of whether the
free and uninterrupted navigation of these val
1 r
| joyment of the mass of the people, or be mon
opolized by few. For more than half CEN
| tury the Susquehanna has been navigated by
| quantities of boards and square timber, well
RATED in RATS, navigated 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 a
| highway so long and proitably used would con-
| tinue to be enjoyed, more than three hundred
saw mills have been erected in Clcarfield coun-
| ty, besides large number i'll Centre and Elk
| counties, and are now in successful operation,
which if 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-
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 a laborious, but honest calling,
| have invested all they worth in 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 few timber owners, who have no interest
| in common with us2 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 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
to raft them together, and navigate the stream
in the same way. There is no hardship in this,
and by pursuing that course the interests of
ALI parties will be protected equally. On the
Delaware, and on the Mississippi river, logs
are RATED together, and why not upon the
Susauehanna The booms constructed for