The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-01-26

were spread in the general store and the
meal would have. done honor to many
hotels After breakfast the party was TAX
en- into the woods on a log frain, where an
exhibition OF loading was given. Returning.
the mill was thrown open to inspection.
AT Laurel. as with other places between
there and New Orleans, the Hoosiers were
reminded that the day when a saw, engine
and shed constitute a first-class mill Is
passed Each mill visited represents an inn
mense outlay of capital. One particular in
cident Is cited Of a company near New Or
leans which is preparing to cut and prepare
for market cypress lumber. The company
has just completed its plant at cost OF
s4O0, 900 and up TO date not one foot of luni
Der has been cut. The cutting Of cypress
is more expensive than yellow pine. but the
latter process is also costly. The yellow
pine mills all have railroads stretching out
into the woods whence the supply Is OBJ
tanned. The mills are large and complete,
Each mill is provided with a pond, where
thousands and thousands of logs are fioated
until carried to the saws.
One thing which struck the average Hoos-
fer was the immense waste of timber.
This waste continues both In the yellow
pine and cypress districts, where thousands
of feet are being burned daily because at
present there is nothing else to do with it.
The waste Is much the same as went on In
Indiana during early days, which make
the lumbermen sick to recall now, for val
liable oak and walnut was then burned
or allowed to rot Remembering that the
supply of Indiana is about gone. the visitors
were naturally interested In learning now
long the supply of the South may last The
lumbermen CT the yellow pine district say
they have enough timber to run them LOT
twenty-five years. A majority Of the f mllls
have enough purchased to last them fifteen
or twenty years, while there are vast
stretches of timber land which have not
been entered because OF the distance from
The Eastman Gardner mill has a daily
capacity of 10000 feet day, but not quite
SO much Is being cut at present, att ef the the
plant and asked all of the questions tney
could muster, they gathered in front OF the
main store and gave three cheers Ior tas
town, three cheers for the company ana
three cheers for the ladies who had arisen
long before daylight to prepare break
fast for them. The children OF the town
had erected a Christmas tree 8 decor
ated IL in a fantastic manner W. bright
colered paper and holly, and while gath
cred about this tree they gave to the de-
parting visitors a hearty cheer or ad1eu.
Short stops were made at the mills or
the Eastabuchie Lumber Company and the
J. j. Newman Company, The former is 10
of the company, while the latter is located
at Hattiesburg. town with rwo railroads
and the possibility of a future. The New
man mill is one of the most complete IN
the yellow pine belt. The logs are carried
to the mill by machinery, and they are Kept
on the go until they come out prepared Tor
ohanicalty. and it requires but few men
and boys at the mill TO cut some ninety
thousand feet Of yellow pine day.
J. C. ADAMS SPEAKS.
From Hattiesburg the party continued to
Lumberton where the J. J. White Lumber
Company and the st. Louis Refrigerator
Company with the assistance OF the women
of the town. had prepared an excellent din
ner. The latter was served In the general
store of the town. the ladies waiting on the
tables. Souvenirs of yellow pine. holly and
yellow paper were at each plate. The COM
panies had roasted fatted OK and several
hogs In true barbecue fashion. Before the
meal was commenced ]. c. Adams. of this
city, was called upon for a speech, the
Mayor OF the place having extended a wei
come. Mr.. Adams made the effort of his
life. and the forest rang with his eloquence.
He paid worthy tribute to the hospitality
OF the people OF the South, and to the ladies.
Following Mr.. Adams came the dinner,
which was devoured rapidly and eagerly, for
the Hoosier lunbermen were hungry with
much travel. Lumberton was about the last
the Indiana dealers saw of the yellow pine
belt The day was drawing to a close when
they left there, with New Orleans as the
next stopping place. While in the region of
the yellow pine the Indiana dealers saw
and learned much. They saw lumber
which Is not extensively known in the
North but which is highly recommended for
finishing, flooring and other inside work.
Members of the party also observed little
lesson in the tariff, for 1t was seen that
were Ii not for the present low tariff on
Canadian white pine the Southern product
might have a larger market and the South
would be benefited. The Southern produc-
ers find ii difficult now to compete in the
of Canada, or vhich the tariff has been
reduced. A fe' gears ego the yellow pine
was unknown the North. but IT is making
friends. and some prefer it now, although
the same price as paid for white pine, or a
little higher. has to be paid for II.
Saturday night the crowd of Indianians
- L. H.. nwln all rn1
and prepared for rest. There was not much
sightseeing that night but the next morn
ing the chase began and continued without
attachments until the time to turn north
the sights of the Crescent City, for what
takes volumes to tell can hardly be put in
to say the Hoosers were delighted with the
New Orleans people, and with many things
of the city, but somewhat disappointed with
the condition of the streets. The sun shone
twice during the three days and Ii was
such q sun as shines here during April,
giving the visitors an idea or the delightful
conditions which may be expected there
few weeks hence. The lumbermen bought
all the souvenirs they could, but after the
first day they learned to put their badges
In their pockets while making purchase,
had an eye ready for strangers. Sunday
morning, which did net seem like Sab
bath day In New Orleans. the Indiana crowd
given long ride on the river. The boat
was in charge OF Messrs. Joseph Rathbone.
of the Louisiana Cypress Lumber Company.
Daniel II. McEwen, of McEwen e. Murray,
and T. II. Mccarthy, of the Ruddock Cy-
press Company, the party being the espe-
cial guests of these gentlemen. During the
afternoon a visit was paid to the mills
of the Louisiana Company, w1ich cut some
thing like a hundred thousand feet of cy
press day. Cypress lumber was almost
an unknown quantity TO the Indiana lum-
bermen, although it is sold here in the
shape OF shingles. In the vicinity OF New
Orleans, however, everything Is claimed
for it and ii is used for score of pur-
poses. Houses are shown to visitors which,
built OF cypress. are sound and secure after
a hundred years stand against the ele-
ments. The claim is made that the lumber
is unsurpassed for siding and general out
side work. while the grain is said to make
were more impressed with the Claims for
outside work. for rot seemed TO be a thing
unexpected OF ii. On the way TO the Louis
lana mill. the party found amusement in
getting little negro children to dance by
throwing coins to them. The parents of the
was pushed in the ring and told TO "shuff
yer feet"
CYPRESS IN THE SwANPS.
The following day, which was Monday, and
a rainy one. the party was taken to the
Ruddock cypress mills. where the manner
Of cutting cypress was shown. The trees all
grow In swamps, which makes the use OF
oxen or horses impossible. Railroads are
constructed TO the heart OF the forests and
on one OF these tracks the Indiana party
was taken 10 a dismal spot where a half
dozen men were splashing around in the
water getting the logs TO the trains. Gables
were strung from the road TO a distance a