Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1857-03-11

of country wholly dependent on the timber,
spar and manufactured lumber business for
their subsistence, and have no outlet for their
product except their navigable streams that
the inhabitants of this section are not indirect
ly, but directly interested in the continuance
of their trade; that should it be checked, they
cannot, owing to difficulties to be surmounted
and want of facilities to reach market, turn
their attention to agriculture, manufactures or
the development of the other resources OF this
section.
3rd. That the business of the inhabitants of
the lumber region enables them to purchase
from Indiana, Cambria, Blair, Centre, Clinton,
Jefferson, Crawford and Armstl oDg counties,
grain, meat and other necessaries of life, val
ued at least at half a million of dollars, and
from Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, merchan-
disc and manufactures exceeding in value one
and half millions of dollars each year.
4th. Its passage is intimately connected with
the business and development of the lumber
ing region and the prosperity of all its cit-
zens; advances the interests of those counties
on which the lumber region depends for its
provisions benefits Philadelphia and Pitts
burgh, with which they carry such an ex-
tensive trade enables trade to be continued
which pays more revenue to the State than is
claimed Though exaggerated) to be paid by
the business of log floating. Its defeat will de-
stroy over one hundred and fifty extensive
steam mills situated out of the lumber region
on the Susquehanna River from Muncy to Bal
timore, and scattered along the Delaware,
Schuylkill, Hudson, Raritan and Connecticut
rivers, throughout Pennsylvania, New Jersey
and eastern New York, now supplied almost
entirely with materials from this section; will
cut off the supply of bridge, wharf, piling and
building timber and shingles with which we
might furnish near all the eastern section of
our country; compel the government and pri-
vate ship and boat yards from Bangor to Nor
folk to obtain spars, decking, keels, whaling
and ship plank at greatly increased prices from
Canada seriously affect the business of Lew
isburg, Selinsgrove, Millersburg, Coxestown,
Harrisburg, Columbia, Portsmouth, Middle
town, Reading, Lancaster, Marietta, York,
West Philadelphia, Kensington, Southwark,
and numerous other fourishing places in our
Commonwealth which now receive an impetus
our valuable pine timber not growing on the
banks of our streams, Oor logs cannot be haul
ed with profit any distance) and our much
priced oak (Which only be exported by
rafting with pine) not only valueless, but ac-
tually anuiSance to those who must clear their
lands.
Resolred, That it would be impolitic, in view
Of hos facf ot 70 laNv off linn nrr
citizens protection, when its passage will ope-
rate benefcially on thousands, and its defeat
will only swell the Golfers of few soulless
monied corporations and produce an incalcu-
liable amount of private and public injury and
injustice.
Resolred, That to compel those now engaged
in log floating TO raft their logs, will not stop
the mills of Lock Haven, Williamsport and
along the West Branch Canal; that material
sufficient to stock one hundred and fifty mills
has been sent along our streams in RATS annu-
ally that with an increased demand, our
our streams have capacity, we could double
our export, and that by the expenditure of a
few thousand dollars between Clearfield Creek
and Lock Haven, it could be more than quad
rupled.
Resolred, That the Boom and Boom mill
companies are asking for privileges which
cannot be awarded to others-that an increase
of log floating owing to the few and shortness
ness of our foods must at last Gas they will be
unable to pass the logs to lower booms and
mills) erect those who are highest up the
stream into mammoth monopolies.
Resotred, That should driving, not rafting,
be pursued, it would be impossible to pass
over our streams logs of a greater length than
Is feet that at market the value of timber
and spars is regulated by size and length, in
creasing in value more rapidly than in size and
length-single sticks, manufactured and haul
ed at great cost, sometimes bringing five hun
dred dollars.
Resoired, That should log floating supplant
the old system of numbering, it would deprive
the laborers of the lumber region of labor in
making, hauling, rafting and running lumber,
annually, a million and half of dollars.
Resolred, That experience has not shown
that log floating is cheaper more profitable,
but the reverse. 1t has been carried on sew
eral years, and with single exception, those
who have engaged in it to any extent in the
lnmber region have hopelessly failed.
Resolred That we of the lumber region are
better able to judge than those of any other
parts, whether the business is a profitable or
losing one, that the assertion of opponents
..experience has demonstrated that square tim
ber rafting is losing business and clear
waste of the productions OF the country" is
not correct as the following facts will show:
1st. The population and business of the ium-