Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1857-03-11
Aaftsmm's goarnal,
CLEARFIELD, PA, MARCH IL, 1857.
PUBLIC MEETING.

fy was held at the Court House, on Wednes-
day evening, March 4th, 1857. Hon. ALEX
AsDER IRvIN was elected President, Hon. j.
T. Leonard, Hon. Richard Shaw, John Patch
in, James B. Graham, Hon. Wm l.: Moore,
Michael A. Frank and Ellis Irwin chosen as
Vice Presidents, and Capt. George Walters,
George W Rheems and Thos. J. Mccullough,
appointed Secretaries. The object of the
meeting having been stated, on motion, Mr..
Rhcems was requested to read the proceedings
of the meeting at Lock Haven of Feb. 2lst.
On motion, committee of 13 were appointed
to draft resolutions, &c. The President ap-
pointed L. ]. Grams, John Mcpherson, John
N. CGase, Jos. Shaw, Col. II. d. Patton, G.
q. Mccullough, Samuel F. Arnold, Jas. For
rest, Jas. III. Larrimer, VIM. F. Irwin, John
Barmoy, John F. Weaver and Samuel Mitch
ell, as that committee. The committee, thro'
its chairman, reported the following, which
were unanimously adopted:
WHEREAS, bill is now before the Legisla-
ture to regulate the navigation of the West
Branch of the Susquehanna river and its trib-
utaries, the passage of which is resisted by
residents of Lock Haven, Wiliamsport and
Sunberry, who are connected with and inter-
csted in corporations favorable to floating
loose saw logs,
Be IT RESOLVED, That we are pleased with
tho manly course pursued by the citizens of
Lock Haven at their meeting held there on
the 2lst February, 1857, in abandoning soph-
istry, and so stating what they believe to be
the facts that we can join issue with them and
so bring our case before the Legislature as to
have it decided on its merits.
Resolred That we adopt their language ssthat
upon the justice OF our cause we meet the is
sue boldly and honestly, confident that true
and impartial statement of the facts in the
will remove the erroneous impressions
created in the minds of some of our legisla-
tors"
Resolred, That the acts of the Legislature
through serious of years, commencing in
1771, declaring the Susquehanna river and its
tributaries public highways for the passage of
RATS, boats and other vessels, has induced the
former and present inhabitants of the lumber
region to settle therein, clear and improve the
land, and erect grist and saw mills, and build
up a lumber business which now exceeds an
nually two millions OF dollars, and is rapidly
increasing.
RESOLVED, That the floating of loose saw logs
on our streams is destructive of our business,
and that rafting, by means of which we send
our spars, square timber, boards, scantling,
piliDg, slaves and shingles to market, must
cease unless those who are engaged in floating
do as we do, make their logs into RATS.
R,.oI.,J That Anatinu Inoue lore ;s CONTRA
ry to the spirit of the laws which caused us to
develop the resources of this region, is not
only in opposition to the interests of the lum-
Der region, but to that of large portion of
our own Commonwealth, New Jersey, New
York, and the whole seabord, and that it ope-
rates injuriously upon thousands, and benefits
but few.
Resolred, That a fraud was perpetrated on
the numbering region when the laws permit
ting booms to be erected were passed that
those interested in their construction gave
us to understand they were for the purpose
OF securing our lumbermcn good landing pla-
ces, and to prevent the loss of such lumber as
might be STAYED during floods; that we were
not made acquainted with the fact that new
system of numbering was to be introduced, and
that floating loose logs is not legal by express
enactment, only by implication.
Re,olred, That we recognize the correctness
of the legal principle sseach man must so use
his rights as not to injurc those of another
that we do not desire to prevent any mill be-
ing stocked, nor to deprive any person of the
use OF our streams that our only object is
10 compel all who use the stream as a means
of conveying lumber, TO use the same mode
we do to prevent injury 20 others using the
stream, i. C. to form their logs into RATS and
send them to their point of destination well
and sufficiently manned.
Resolred, That approve the position ia
ken by our Lock Haven brethren that laws
should be passed having for their object the
greatest good to the greatest number, and tha'
We believe the bill now before the Legislature
carries out that principle and should be pas
sed for the following reasons
lst Those interested in the floating OF loose
logs admit that there are directly interested IN
their business, the owners of about ~ mills
ana at the most several hundred operatives
besides those indirectly interested. We as
sert, and our assertion is founded upon facts
WITHIN our knowledge, that in the lumber re.
glon OF the West Branch there are three hun
dred ana eighty-fve saw mills in operation
giving employment to tho heads of three fam
lilies, each mill on average, besides Indirect
ly employing in raising grain, &C., thousand
efpersons.