The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-01-27
state, County ana vicinity.


But few of your readers are aware that
in the town of Mt. Tabor is located one of
the most lucrative establishments in West
ern Vermont and one that from small be-
ginning has extended until now it is known
over large portion of the country. We
refer to the lumber and coal works of Silas
L. Griffith partial description of which
appeared in your columns last June. Ac-
cepting the invitation of Mr. G. the writer
accompanied HIM a few days ago TO the
place where his mill is situated and was
completely surprised at the extent of the
village which has grown up around it
since he commenced operations there. The
village is located about five miles from Mt.
Tabor station, the drive to it being through
valley which seems to have been formed
expressly for the purpose of a-4ead. On
either side of it the hills rise to consider
able of height and at this season of the
year the scenery on both sides is pictur-
esque and grand. Arriving at our destina-
ton we find village of over forty houses,
mostly good frame buildings, one of them
boarding HOUSEKEEPING surmounted with
a mansard roof-having ample accommo-
dation for fifty boarders. In addition to
these is the mill 10S AZ feet which
is we'll constructed and arranged
so that In cold weather one can work in it
without being in continual fear of freeZ-
ing to DEATH In the mill is one 5G-inch
circular saw, planer, and eight small saws,
which are used for siding and other neces-
sary purposes. The power is supplied by
steam engine of 40-horse power and two
turbine water-wheels of 80 and 25-horse
power EACH On the premises is store
24x36 feet, where the people residing there
can procure their groceries and other nee
essaries of life as cheap as at any other
place, and which is well patropized. The
population of this village amounts to about
| two hundred, among the nationalites re-
presented being Swedes, Firms, French,
Irish and Americans. The plateau upon
which this village is situated was almost
wilderness in 1867, when he having been
| located there for two years disposed of the
property, but purchasing it back in 1870,
MIR. G. went to work with will and since
| that time it may he said that he has crush
ed business" During the past season
school, whose average attendance was over
| forty scholars, was daily maintained, the
chief support of it coming directly from
| Mr.. Griffith himself.
In addition to the mill, there are located
| at this point eight coal kilns, each of which
| it takes fifty cords of wood to fill, and one
half mile below here are located four
more, which, with the two situated near
the depot, makes fourteen In all, the coal
made in all of them being taken by the
Barnum iron company of Connecticut, with
whom Mr.. Griffith has contract for one
million bushels. The total number of men
employed at this time by MIR. G. is 1873, who
are divided up as choppers. teamsters. mill
hands, coal burners, etc. Quite a number
| of them are men who remained with Mr..
| Griffith last summer when he was in want
of men, and, although he does not need
them at present, he still continues to give
them employment, it being a rule of his
not to discharge a man in the winter who
has kept with him through the summer.
At present he is engaged in getting in
logs and wood, enough to last him during
the next summer. There is now piled IN
near the kilns at the mill, 5000 cords of
hard wood, and at the others about Q, 500.
1t is his expectation to have about .0OO,-
900 feet Of hard and soft lumber piled near
the mill by the LIST of April next.
Two miles from the mill is a farm be-
longing to Mr.. Griffith, consisting of 800
acres. which is under the supervision of
Mr.. Robert Winship. On this farm large
portion of the hay, grain and other pro-
ducts are raised, which are consumed at
the boarding houses, three in number AT