The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1882-11-08
VALLEY OF TloNEsTA CREEK.

TO l. Y Hoag, IT,, u S. Engineer:

10 L. Y. Hodg, Jr., Y. =. Engineer:
DEAR SIR - Understanding that
you are making an examination Of the
Valley Of Tionesta Creek from Shef.
field, in Warren county, to its mouth
at Tionesta borough, Pa, with a view
of examining the feasibility and advisa-
bility Of its improvement as high
way as we'll as its resources. l wtite
you at your request my viewsD
The Tionesta is one of the most i'm
portant creeks that empty into the
Allegheny. 1t is swift stream that
cuts its way through the hills (more
properly mountains) throughout its
entire course. Numerous small streams
enter it from both sides, among which
are, Blue Jay, the two Sherifs, Fools
creek, Logan, Phelps Run, Bobs creek,
Salmon creek, Lamentation, Bear
creek, Ross Run, jug Handle, Little
Coon, Big Coon, and Johns Run.
Formerly the large sawmills and lum.
Der manufacturing establishments were
located on the main creek and not on
the braDces of the creek, and the old
mills that were located on the main
creek are in many cases abandoned,
but several Of these mills, in conse-
quence Of the growing lumber trade,
have been rebuilt and improved mod
ern machinery placed therein, both in
the Tionesta and its tributaries, while
many new mills have been built. A
large new mill has been erected near
Balltown by +. Henry q Co.; the 9TH
er mills of note are Buck mills, about
20 miles up the creek as the same runs;
below 3 miles, on the south bank of
the creek is tho mouth Of Salmon
creek; here is large Hemlock Bark
Extract Co., under the control of W.
w. Kellett & Co., of Boston, Mass,
erected, 1t is said, at cost of over
$4,000, which does large business
manufacturing Hemlock Extract for
tanning purposes for expectation.
Above it, on Salmon creek, about one
mile up, is the large mill of the Sal
mon Creek Lumber Co., which cuts 4
or 5 millions feet each year, mostly
hemlock, for which, as well as cherry,
ash, beech and other timber it is noted;
this company have 5000 acres heavily
tlmbered. Near the mouth of Salmon
creek there IS fne bed of most excel
lent fire brick clay, of superior quail
ity, which appears to be very deep,
aDd it is said company is preparing
to work it. Newtown mills, about a
mile and one. half below the mouth of
Salmon, on the creek bank, manufac.
ture very large amount of lumber,
mostly pine; these mills turn out large
amounts Of lumber yearly Wheeler,
Dusenbury d Co., proprietors. They
also have large body of hemlock and
other woods of valuable character
these mills have been there over 80
years, and such is the growth of tim.
ber that some Of the tracts near the
creek have been gone over three or
four times, and still great amounts re-
main, the hemlock being scarcely
touched, and pine abundant. This
firm have over 10000 acres-perhaps
10000 acres. Years will pass before,
even with modern improved mills aud
machinery, the different mills and lum.
ber establishments can exhaust the
timber on these large bodies-certain-
ly not in this generation. The next
mills Immediately on the creek are at
Nebraska, at the mouth of coon creek,
6 miles above the mouth of Tionesta
creek, where there is also an iron
bridge, Touring mill, store and quite a
village and settlement; but by far the
most important is the mammoth man
ufacturing mill of L. d. Collins, the
proprietor, who has an improved mill
with planning mill attachments. Mr..
Collins has also been building of late
years large barges designed for the
coal trade on the Ohio aud Mississippi
rivers; this is a new industry. 1t
might be mentioned that at Oldtown
and other points on the Tionesta large
fiat boats and barges are built each
year suitable for heavy transportation;
besides this many parties are engaged
in getting out square timber for the
lower markets, which is mostly run to
Pittsburgh and sold there, suitable for
heavy buildings. railroad brides. &c.
This is an industry in which many
along the creek and its branches are
engaged.
Time and space forbid an enumera.
tion of the different mills and lumber
establishments on the tributaries of the
Tionesta. but l mention a few briefly,
these are, Gibson & Groves mill at
the mouth of lower Sherifis creek DR..
Towler's mill on Salmon creek, which
does a large business in cherry, ash
and valuable timber; Hunts mill.
and tue Red Brush mills of Root d