The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1884-12-10

! there was a lady, Mrs. Harriet Smitl
who was experimenting, In persor
every department OF a inanufacturin
business in Tuckertown, Fla. We aske
her for a letter, descriptive of her expC
renee in conducting this novel busines
to a woman-and the result is the re
markable communication that appear
elsewhere. II we are not greatly mi:
taken, some men who are running say
mills can learn many profitable point
from this lady's letter. Not the leas
amusing thing about il Is the assertion
that men around saw mills talk" to-
much. We would hardly expect such
suggestion from such source; never
theiess, it is true Northeastern Lnmbe,
man.
TUCKERrowS, FLA, November IL
Your letter Of a late date requesting M
to give nv experience as 4 lumber man
ufacturer Is ut hand | viii state at tn,
start that | am not in the busines
through choice, but having loaned
money TO parties with which to purchast
a saw mill, was compelled by thei
ia lure TO make even the first paymen
TO t,ke the machinery from them.
then put my son-in-law, Ernest Viewer
who promised great things, in charge
| told him | knew nothing of saw mill
ing, but knew that the saw dust wa.
too fine and the scratches on the board.
too close together / lefe him to rur
the mill. but in short time / found he
could do no better than other men and
took him out of there 50 quick il made
his head swim. | moved the mill dis
tance of 20 miles, fording the HILLSIDE
rough river, and placed it near my own
house, at an actual expense of 50; and
iii few days | had everything in good
order / have my own teams and carts
and take timber from my own lands
Although accustomed to manage my
own affairs, commencing by the time |
was grown, | found difficulties enough
in making lumber. aud | have often
said that ii saw mill and satan belong in
the same family, and some people say
that since | became the owner of one
they are sure of it; but while they talk
| am at work. This is the trouble with
half the country saw mills: There Is too
much talking and not enough work.
Why, Mr.. Editor, the NEST of men talk
over a log long enough to saw it into
inch boards. Then when they yet start
ed they discover that the fireman has
not steam enough; then they must all
sit down and talk again. By the time
steam is up and one or two boards saw
ed, belt must be repaired. which might
Just as weil have been attended to before
working hour, in the morning or at
noon. Then one man seWs the belt
while all engage in talk again When
the belt Is ready the sawyer gets it into
his mind that the machinery needs oil
ing; then he hunts up the oil can, for
he never has a place for anything, and
goes around squirting oil into every
hole but the right one, while the other
hands go on With their talking. The
next day they are out of logs aud the
mill hands dc aothsng except to allow
"theic time to % oD." The day follow
Tag some of the men are reported sick
and more time is lost. At the end OF
the month there is little lumber and no
money and they all wonder why saw
milling does not pay.
knew we'll enough that machinery i
made 10 run, and when running il
should he at work, aud all had to do
was 10 keep the saw cutting for 10
hours day and SIX davs in the week
la order to do this the mill must be
kept in good order not hy repairing
broken parts but hy Keeping it from
getting broken. And soon saw that
the parts of machinery ont Of sight
were neglected the most. | would sup
pose any man would know that it is the
inside of thing that needs attention
the inside of the boiler, the inside of
the cylinder, the inside of the pump or
inspirator is of far more importance
than the outside. Nothing makes me
more angry than to see a man guhhing
up the outside of his boiler when ]
know the mud is six inches deep inside,
baking. burning and blistering the iron
vet have seen but few saw mills except
my OWN. But | saw how that was man
aged before | took possession of it, and
am told that others are managed n
better.
Many a man in the saw Euffl bushes,
would do well if Le could get skilled
labor, but tats state is cursed with {
tribe of saw mill tramps who claim ID
know everything and when tried can d,
nothing. They are always on foot and
out Of money, yet If we are to believe
them they have been the superinten
dents of the largest mills III America
Everyone of them has been Gov. Drew
principal sawyer for at least 10 wears
receiving not less than s6 day They
all know more of machinery than th'
men who make it, and are Eeady, not tC
commence saving, but TO commence cut
ting, changing, splicing and rebuilding
with promise that il will give then
$3.50 per day and board they vii
double the capacity of my mill and b.
ready for work in about three weeks
have never been deceived by one o
them, bit they leave their mark where
| ever employed. One-half of them ough
to be hung and the other half sent t
the penitentiary. One came to me
/ few days ago who was an exception, foi
notwithstanding he was "the best sawye
in Florida" he was willing to work 70
| so a month and board, or SIP if h
boarded "his 1f"-hungry lookin
wretch. wouldn't have boarded hir
even day for 81, and | knew h
couldn't board himself at any sue
price. Said |, "Do you see .that roa
out there?" He very meekly said h
did. Then" said l, you go out there
and when you get TO it you take eithe
end you like; the one that will put yo
out of my sight the quickest will sui
me the best" He won't. IF he had nc
I would have put the dogs after him i
three minutes.
employ none but the best hands,
not paving too much or too little, fo
/ one fault is about as bad as the other.
| can't say just what my lumber cost
me, but know that when sold | hav
taken in more money than l have pal
out. am SO years old, or about tina
was born in Florida, and was raised 4
a time when bookkeeping was M
| thought of.
now have my secoud husband, an
am the mother of nine children, seve
of whom are now living. Several of tt
elder are doing business for themselve
vet they always come to mother" Fl
advice, and when they don't take il the
wish they had. ] have always manage
nv own business, and | expect to viii
| live. | awake in the morning an
plan the days work while the me
are asleep, and at the breakfast table
give every one his orders, including n
husband, who never objects to my doir
the thinking for the family.
Ny first advice to men who confer
plate going into the saw mill business
don't do it, for not one in 20 of "
has the ability to succeed IL. howeve
t YOU are determined TO try If, be caref
that you get the best machinery, strol
! and heavy enough to stand the b;
, treatment of awkward hands. Buy q
most durable belts, no matter what tn
cost, for half the failures in our bac
i woods mills are caused by censta
breaking of belts. And when a col
plete outfit is secured, locate where "
, can get timber and sell lumber. ke