Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1889-06-27
SALVAGE FOR STRAY LOGS.
A Question whether Owners of Island
Can Claim the Reward.

A Question Whether Owners OF Islands
Can Claim the Reward.
From the Columbia Herald.
Among the heaviest losers by the great
hood Of June l, 1889, were the lumberand
mill men of the Susquchanna river region.
Not less than six million dollars worth of
logs and lumber were hoated away from
their owners on the high water of that
memorable flood. by far the greater part
Of this loss falls upon the lumhermen in
and around Williamsport. These lum-
berinen are all members of an in
corporated company known as the
"West Branch Luinbermans Ex-
change" and this corporation, by original
ownership, assignment transfer, etc, have
acquired the absolute ownership of all logs
and lumber which recently escaped into
the Susquehanna. This Exchange is now
taking active steps To recover and save
their property. Great quantities of this
property has been caught along the river
banks and lodged on the islands in Lam
caster county. II IL probable that there
will be much disappointment among those
who have caught logs with reference to the
compensation allowed them by law.
There Is a general opinion that they will
~ able to recover at the rate of fitly cents
pesaSG This is an error. Il i>inst.ihat
the act of~sase. II, 1866 gives i compens;,-
caught below the town of Northumberland,
but this price only applies where the
owners of the logs have voluntarily hoated
the logs in the river The law was PASSED
20 prevent the driving of logs below Will
Transport and was never intended 10 cover
the case of logs which had been taken out
Of the booms by high floods.
The rate of compensation allowed TO
those who catch, take up and secure logs
and lumber floating down the Susquehanna
river is-above the Columbia bridge fifty
cents per thousand feet, board measure
hn hrtI SaNl to. ttNA 10
per thousand feet board measure. With
reference to the logs and lumber lodged on
the islands and along the banks. it does
not appear that the laws OF Pennsylvania
hx any compensation to the owner of the
land, where he does not actually catch the
floating logs or lumber hut where they
only lodge on his property.
A public sale of all the logs that escaped
from the boons will be held in the cour;
house in Willamsport ON tomorrow
Thursday at 10 a. IN. A committee from
the West Branch Lumberman's Exchange
has already visited along the river III our
county and it is believed that a speedy
settlement of all claims on an equitable
basis Will be made. Most of the island
owners are represented by counsel and the
Lufnberman's Exchange have employed
VIM. b. Given, esd, as their attorney in
Lancaster county.
The stray log committee make the fol-
lowing estimates OF logs now lying i'm this
viciaify, viz:
From Highspire 10 Columbia dam, esti-
mated At l4,000,0O0 feet. From Columbia
dam TO Safe Harbor, estimated at 100000
feet. From Safe Harbor To York Furnace.
estimated at $4,000 feet. From York
Furnace TO McCall's Ferry, estimated at
2,SO0,00 feet. From McCalrs Ferry To
Peach Bottom. estimated al 500, 900 feet
From Peach Bottom TO Conowingo, esti-
mated at 100000 feet. Making a total of
81, $50 900 feet.