The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1871-09-19
t,urpn civ Letter.

Queen CITY Letter.
Eplron REGISTER = have "A few items
that may interest some Of your readers,
and which perhaps you will find space
space for in your paper, even If ! get
them together after fashion.
1t is generally known that Burlington
ranks as third lumber market in the Unit.
cd States. One can have but faint
idea Of the magnitude of the business and
the amount Of hard labor and brain work
required to properly conduct it, unless
the trouble is taken to go among the huge
piles of boards Of some one Of the firms
engaged in the trade.
From the BATTERY" lovely view Of
the lake is to be had, and glance takes
in the York State hills, Juniper Island,
Shelburn Bay, Rock Point and the
Episcopal Institute, and down below you
spread out in grand panorama arc the
lumber yards and shops.
Some years ago
LAWRENCE BARNES
commenced dealing in lumber in n small
way, his energy and business tact rapid
ly enlarged the business, he gave to the
trade the impetus that has brought it to
the present prosperous state it enjoys,
and Burlington has him to thank in a
great measure for the growth and thrift
of the place. Mr.. Barnes founded the
firm that is known as
SHEPARD, DAVIS & Co.,
by far the largest and best conduct.
cd in the city. Every branch of the bust.
ness Is managed in q systematic manner.
Through the yard, the mills, and in the
office we find things reduced to science.
The YARD
covers about thirty acres, it is regularly
laid out in narrow streets, and there are
ninety five of them nicely planked, named
and numbered. From seven o'clock in
the morning till six at night VIC find these
streets quite alive with laborcrs, sorters
surveyors, and tally boys. There are nc
loose boards lying around, every thing is
kept in tidy manner.
THE MILL
is said to be the largest in the world and a
model of its kind. The engine house is
a handsome brick building two stories
high, from this stretches out the planning
department, three hundred feet it is
we'll lighted and ventilated. Thirty
planers are ranged through the middle Of
the building, blow pipes are adjusted over
each machine and the shavings arc con-
Quoted throug h them to the shavings room
they are used to feed the furnaces with
and by shops about the city and al
Winooski. Big carts can be seen at any
hour in the day loading up with them.
The arrangement of the mill is excellent
boards come in at one side in the rough
and 90 out the other white and smooth
and are loaded into cars. The whire Of
the machinery and the rattle of the boards
is quite confusing.
TnE ENGINE
is Corliss, rated at two hundred and
fifty horse power, but can be run four
hundred. 1t is five feet stroke, twenty.
six inch cylinder, the drive wheel is
eighteen feet diameter and makes sixty
revolutions per minute. 1t is a grim
monster and works away very quietly
The room is pleasant and has an air Of
elegance about it, with its handsome floor
and its nicely ornamented walls. Part
of the engine house is fitted up as first
class machine and repair shop.
THE RETAIL SHED
is model. Aud we find lumber of all
grades and description conveniently laid
out for the inspection of buyers. Near
the central depot is the
Office.
1t has lately been enlarged and rcmodeled
and is On attractive place. In front is a
little yard nicely turfed, it is quite re-
freshing to see little green grass among
SO much sand. A pleasant piazza covers
two sides of the house. On the roof run.
ing from gable to gable is big sign whose
golden letters read Canada and Michigan
Lumber at Wholesale" The interior is
comfortably fitted up and is heated
throughout with steam, This too, is q
busy place, about ten men are constantly
employed in the office.
My rough and hasty sketch | mus
close for the want of time. A great deal
could be written on the lumber subject
but I'll have to leave it to some one better
fitted to give it an extended place on pa
per. Quill.
Burlington. Sept. 18th.