The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1867-11-07

Soma two ana nall acres, generally well
filed with stock of every description. To |
facilitate shipping, side track has been
from the railroad to the main |
portion of the yard. The river landing is |
an excellent one for fiat boats and other
small craft. The number of hands employ
ed in the running season is from forty-fve
to fifty, at a cost of about $500 per week, or
an aggregate of sixteen thousand dollars
season. The amount of lumber turned out
per week, is about 100000 feet; shingles,
10000; lath, $4,000. The planning mill
attached, dresses about 200 feet Of lum'
Der per day. During the past season about
four million feet of logs have been used,
and the same number of feet OF lumber man
ufactured. Of this latter, about one third is
shipped into Iowa and down the river, about
the same consumed in the city, and the bal
ance sent to Coal Valley where the firm car
ries on lumber yard of considerable pro-
portions. This mill is now doing a fine and
profitable business, and having about all it
can do to fill orders, and keep its lumber
yard respectfully stocked.
Immediately above our city, and advanta-
geously located on Silvan Water, P. Skinner
4 Son are carrying on an extensive lumber
business. Their mill was constructed some
ten or twelve years ago by David Barnes,
success, and failing during the financial
crash of 1857, left for the more auriferous
regions of Pixies Peak. At that time the
mill was not very desirable property, con-
sidering the amount of capital necessary to
keep ii in operation, and the general depres-
sion felt in all business circles. 1t accord
ingly passed through number of hands,
but the names we have been unable to learn.
Chamberlin, Reynolds & Co. finally became
proprietors, who leased the property in 1864,
to Messrs. keator i Skinner for the term Of
one year. In April 1865, Porter Skinner
purchased the establishment, and associat-
ing with him his son David continued the
business under the firm name of P. Skinner
& Son. The main building is 40 by 90
feet in size, and fanked by two wings, one
20 by 60 feet, and the other twenty feet
square. In close proximity to the mill is
sash ware house about fifty feet square,
The property connected embraces about five
acres, but only about one half of this is used
as lumber yard, the balance being occu-
pied by ten tenant houses erected by the
firm for workmen in their employ. This is
good idea which should be generally imi-
| tated by our capitalists. Three switch tracks
run through the yard from the railroad, Sc
curing the easy handling of shipments. The
greater portion of the lumber manufactured
is shipped by rail; heavy amount is sent
to Desmoines, and other principal points in
Iowa. some is shipped as far east as La
Sale, while an extensive lumber yard at
Geneseo, draws every inch of its stock
from Skinner Il Co. About forty men re-
ceive employment during the running sea-
| son, which extends through eight months of
the year, and when shipments are brisk even
more than this number is required The
| amount of money expended for labor is
about twenty thousand dollars per annum. =
| About half million feet of logs are cut
| during each running month, or about four
million a year, turning out four million feet
of lumber. In the second story of the mill
| is complete sett of machinery for turning
sash, blinds, doors, window frames, cornices,
moulding, pickets, ratings - in fact, any
article used in the construction or surround
ings of frame building. Owing to the
character of these articles, it would be very
| difficult to form an estimate of the amount
of work done in this line per year. 1t forms
a very considerable item, however, in the
aggregate OF sales. The general arrange
ments of the interior of the mill betray taste
and order. As security against fire, the
root Is lire proof, while a hose is so arranged
as to be able to convey water at moments
notice to any part of the mill or yard. The
RATS used are pushed up to the bridges by
the ferry, and from there are pulled by work
men with the assistance of crab. Messrs
Skinner & Son find more trouble in filling
orders than in selling, as is pretty generally
| lue case Will our manufacturers anu lulnDer
| men.
In addition to these mills, there are three
lumber yards in our city, all doing fair
business. Saml. w. Gallup, who has beer
IN this business since 1851 is located ON the
levee near the Coal Valley round house.
Ills stock is principally RATED from Wiscon
sin and Minnesota, and consists of lumber
shingles, laths, and everything in the genera
line. His trade is principally of loca
character, and with the south and east par
of this county, and few towns in Merce,
county.
AT the corner of Deer and Illinois streets
on the grounds formerly occupied by War
rem Bros. for the same purpose, Chas. NJ
Robinson opened lumber yard in April
last, and is now conducting a respectable
trade.
About two years ago, D. I. Robinson es
tablished himself at the corner of Washing
ton and Highland streets, and has since
dealt in all kinds of RATED lumber, and is
now able to chronicle steadily increasing
business.
1t is quite out of the question to collec
all the data necessary to summing up o
the lumber trade of our city, but the above
notes will be sufficient to furnish proper
xuh ho. Al.