The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1871-01-20
our BUSINESS HOUSES.

4
The rough, slab covered saw mill, issuing
forth the harsh music of dancing saws, attracts
| little attention from the masses and never sug-
gests a thought of the mighty traffic of which
it is the motive power. Forest after forest is
| swept from broads fields, to be transformed in
to lumber which floats along the lakes, on our
vessels, forms high embattlements upon our
docks, and rises in well found tiers in count
less lumber yards. This traffic constitutes a
very important branch of the business carried
on in this city Mr.. 1. E. Emsden first became
actively interested in the lumber trade, in the
| fall Of '66, at which time he built a saw mill
near the ware house, and engaged in the busi-
ness of manufacturing and shipping lumber
The first two years, his business gave employ
ment to about fifteen men, and comprised the
shipments of about 100000 feet of lumber
annually. The successful experience of two
years, brought, within his reach greater de-
msnds and paved the way! for rapid increase
inhis business, and in '6s he selected a site On
Front Street. a short distance below .he pack.
ing house of Gusdorf & Co., and erected
steam saw mill there of much greater capacity
than The old one. Upon the margin Of the
street, and in front Of the mill he built hand
some Office, from which can be seen all that is
transpiring N tho yard and about the mill,
whersan engine of 45 herse power drives the
machinery. The logs are cut into lumber by
two saws, a g inch saw 1nnning above one Of
o6 inehes ini6iamster. Besides these, the mill
is supplied with a lath machine, ,planer, 3small
circular saws, and an edging saw. These each
performing their swift revolutions day after
day, convert the rough timber into smooth
marketable lumber, with rapidity scarcely
credible, as at the end of twelve month
careful inventory discloses the actual amount.
One unacquainted with the various avenues of
this business, would be astonished if told of
the large contracts which Mr. Amsden has
taken and filed during the past year. Oak,
hickory, ash, walnut and white wood, bought
for the most part, from the farmers of this vi
cinity, have been fAIetureds BY him into
lumber for various uses. The amount manu-
factured and shipped by him during the past
year, has reached four million and half feet
Connected with the lumber trade is wood
yard, from which was sold the past year, about
one thousand cords of sawed wood, and five
hundred cords Of slabs, the business of which
amounted to about $4,000. He gives employ
ment to from 20 to Is men, andon.an average
through the year, % teamsters with teams are
engaged. The aggregate value of lumber
shipped by Mr.. Amsden during the year, was
not less than Ss5,OOO. Mr.. Amsden is extern
sively engaged with Mr.. N. c. West, in the
staEe trade, which amounted, last year, to the
purchase of about 10000 slaves, las noticed in
connection with the business of West, Haynes
q Coz As agent for the '0nondags Salt Co.,
of Syracuse, N. Y, his sales amount to about
5000 barrels annually. This is worth, on an
average, $3.50 per barrel. His annual sales of
water lime amount to 500 barrels. The amount
which he pays to workmen is not less than |
s2I 900 annually, all Of which is paid to those
living in or near our city, and passes into the
current ofour business finances The importance |
and value Of such Manufacturing interest to |
our city, can only be estimated properly by the
amount of employment it furnishes, and the /
market it creates for the sale of products of |