The Tiffin weekly tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1859-1868, 1866-12-27

and dam were most thoroughly con-
structcd, in skillful and workman
like manner, out Of the best materi.
als-both In regard TO fitness aud du-
rability. The frame was made GU.
tircly of oak; howed aud morticed on
the square aud finely pinned togcth.
er' The machinery was perfect and
the sides plankod up after the most
modal. There we're here
and there a loophole, to be sure, but
these were made by design, having
reference to the health of the employ
es therein by admitting a free circu.
lation of air, and the ready escape of
smoke or any othcr Impurities which
might accumulate, aud if closely con .
6u'd contamiuato il. The roof, like the
sides, was covered with the most du.
rablo plank, expressly sawed thick ia
the middle and thin at the edges TO
prevent warping; and which had bO
come hardened; as It was claimed, by
having grown on the outer surface OF
the trees, always exposed to the di-
rect action of the sun and weather.
The indonted saw was made of steel
refined with reference to its special
use 1t cut the woody abros without
pain aud yarociously devoured the big
ogs which Intercepted its passage.
The dam was constructed with dura-
bio timber, and secured by an inter.
mixture Of earth, stone anl gravel
It was as tight as a bottle, aud the
excess of water, not needed to supply
the mill, lcaped, like a bounding doe,
over it.
Indeed this mill and dam, in the
conception of the Fort Ball belliger-
ants, was paragon Of perfection and
beauty. The only serious apprehen-
sion from its construction aud success
was, that the time might not be far
distant when these mighty forests,
surrounding it, would become exhaus-
ted of trees suitable for saving aud
into lumber.
just think of it; adopting this hy.
pothcsis TO be true, what would have
been the condition of Seneca county
long ago if this mill had continued
in operation. A mill dead as her
ring" for want of saving material
Therefore it would really seem that
there might have been a Providence
in the painful catastrophe which
eventually arrested its career.
In the eye of TifIin, however, eve
rything was reversed. The dam was
made of brush imperfectly confined
by mud and stone, and merely tight
enough, when new, to partially OBJ
struct tho current and furnish power
barely sufficient to show that the
whole structure was coarse, shaggy
net-a miserable failure. Its top
rough and gaunt, thrusting out it,
uncouth chin and bushy beard, con-
stituted commendablc nondescrip
for the provocative suggestions OF in
quisitive curiosity. The mill itsel
was hastily constructed out of every
species of tim Der, hard or soft, mos
conveniently attainable, and irrespoc-
tive of its fitness or quality. The
and workmanship were
defective. The sides
had only here and there slab pinneC
or spiked to the posts and beams t.
prevent the whole establishment from
tumbling into the river. The roo
was braced in a similar manner, ant
with like materials and design, anC
had no other covering or support
The saw might and might not hav'
been edged with steel, but il wa
certainly no shirk, for its progress il
cutting only from three TO Eve hun
dred feet of luber per day was con
elusive evidence of its want of con
ditiou Of power. In fact these Tiff
-belligerent denounced, with most ap
probrious epithets, the whole concer
as an ugly nuisanee-a lazy lout--
burlesque on all mechanism and ar
mammoth shanghai without a hoa
or pOsterior apPcadpge.
Notwithstan ding this diversity Q
opinion which / have recited wit
scrupulous exactness, the resul Wind
Gates most conelusiyely the presenc
of a just mediocrity in the premise
Although the mill might have bee
somewhat tardy, yet like all begir
ners, it had reputation to establish
and experience admonishes US, as u
doubt it did those of that generation
that success is generally far less dc
pendent upoa quixotic impetuosii
than upon staid habits 4-encOuragir
untiring efforts and circumspect op'
rations in legitimate business,
/ Tits impossible to determine vii
anything like mathematical certain
with what speed this mill, tho subje
Of so much controversy and criticisr
might have attained hae it not be-
literally starved to death by a tragi
al calamity which no sagacity cOu
, eo.aaaan. Suffiae II tO sav fha