The Somerset reporter., 1890-03-27
For the Reporter;
A Day In the Woods.


quite an extensive numbering business
has been carried on within a short dis.
lance from US this winter, and being de-
sirous of learning more about our home
Industries, your correspondent was one
of a company Of eight persons who set
out from the Corner to visit the Camps
of the lumbermen in f. Cornville and N.
Canaan.
Accordingly about half past nine
last Tuesday morning found usl "all
aboard" the woodsled, tucked In and
made comfortable with robes and blank
cts. l. C. took up the lines and chirruped
to his horses and off we started, four
ladies and four gentlemen A ride of two
miles on the Athens road brought us to
the Steam Mill, owned and run by Messrs
Burrill and Parsons. We were warmly
greeted by Mr.. Scammon Burrill and his
estimable and energetic wife who run the
boarding house, and during our snort
stay were very courteously entertained.
Mr.. B. Informed US that about one mil
lion II. Of lumber will be sawed this winter
giving employment to about so persons.
Several families employed live In small
houses close BY, and one family have
camp where they live very comfortably.
This mill has opened up trade which
otherwise could not very well be carried
on. At present they are getting out for
Hodgden Bros. of Boothbay, ship
frame of about GOO tons burthen. Hodg-
den and Son are there with molds and the
forests are being explored to find timber
suitable to make the ship Of. About 90
thousand #. of deck plank are being
sawed from nice pine logs which cover
quite an acre Of ground in the yard.
Edgerly and Co. are getting out about
2OOO ship knees and about 600O railroad
ties will find their way to market from
this mill Several saws are kept in oper-
alton by large engine. Mr.. Cookson is
engineer. The circular saw is operated
by Chas. Kicker, other saws are used in
cutting up white birch into spool wood.
Quite an amount of other lumber will be
sawed for different parties. About forty
teams are employed in the woods and
about the mill.
Quite train of teams start out some
mornings for Skowhegan the nearest rail-
road station laden with the different kinds
of lumber. What pity 1t Is that the
railroad does not reach this busy place.
Much timber that Is now nearly inacess-
able would prove mine of wealth to the
owners.
After climbing to the top of the huge
mound of sawdust for an extended view
of the surroundings, we retraced our
steps to the boarding house where we
were refreshed with lunch Of good old
fashioned twisters.
Refusing pressing invitation to dine
with our hosts we mounted our seats,
said "good bye" and started off through
the woods towards the East. Having
gone about one-half mile we turned to the
right and soon were In sight of Lewis Bros
camp, here we did not tarry, we were
greeted by Mrs. Lewis an1 daughter, who
were the only ones at home. This COM
pany are working for Marcus Parsons,
and are doing good business. Once
more on our way we enjoyed the drive of
two and one-half miles over nice road
with the bracing air OF the woods to
aharnen our appetite. part OF our way
lay through a heavily timbered land.
We came to the camp of Messrs. Hall
and Barnes, and were greeted by those
gentlemen In person. Arriving just In
time 10 Lakt d btut ~ tuc scOouu taoie
and do ample justice to the delicious
baked beans which the cook set before
us, and refreshed ourselves with camp
fare, several of the ladies' made little
addition in the way of desert.
While engaged In lively after dinner
chat, the door swung slowly open and the
majestic fern Of our esteemed friend
Uncle John Tenney Of Showhegan,
smilingly bowed himself into our pres
ence, he was RECALLED with fragments
from the bean kettle, etc. The Cook,
Chester Chase, very generously passed
around his gum box, and think Its con-
tents must have been nearly all appro-
priated.
This company Informed us that they
have cut and hauled this winter about $50
thousand It. Of lumber Of different kinds,
beside large lot of cedar for shingles,
one pine cut by them scaled 1862 #. Their
crew consists of men l pair of horses
and yoke of oxen. Still farther to the
east are the Cover Bros. we did not
visit their camp, but we learned they are
doing q good business. Will Chase has
done quite a good winters work, about
an tbouoaud r. he has hauled to the