The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1896-04-08
The Wheeler & pusenburr Mill


Editor White Of the Tidioute Nesos re-
Gently paid a visit to the thriving village
of Stowtown, Hickory township, and
like others who nave been there, seems
to have been smitten with what he saw,
MS is shown by the following article in
his last weeks issue
"The newly rebuilt Wheeler & Dusen-
bury mill at East Hickory will well re-
pay visit by lovers of machinery and
mechanics. II is of the latest band saw
built with all the latest wrinkles and inn
provements for doing work fast and eco
nomically. The saw is twelve inches
wide, has automatic tension and guides
and hustles through a log of any size
steam nigger, steam feed; roller frame
for carrying of work from the saw au-
tomato saws for edging and slashing; a
lath mill; grinder for chewing up the
refuse slashings to be fed under the boil
ers along with the sawdust; a carrier to
run the surplus waste for burning outside
at a safe distance; the usual apparatus for
yanking logs out of the pond; and COM
plete filing room, when the band saws
are filed, brazed, stretched and gummed
comprise only part of this the most
complete mill we ever visited.
"Outside the mill building are brick
boiler and engine houses. The former
contains a battery of boilers fed with the
refuse and sawdust, brought by carriers
| to manholes, when it is shoveled into the
arches. The engine house contains two
engines, the larger running the band
mill proper. Both houses have all the
modern appliances. 1t is fascinating to
stand by and watch the different ma
chimes and appliances, some of which
seem almost particularly that
''nigger"-a machine that places and
turns the logs on the carriage just as the
sawyer desires. No cant hooks there.
SIN one respect the plant is peculiarly
| noteworthy, it being the only mill per-
baps in Pennsylvania capable of saving
| long stuff Seventy-two feet can be
turned out, and Messrs. Wheeler & Du-
senbury have not only the mill to do it,
but also'the necessary length of log to
get it out. The capacity of the mill in a
days run has never yet been tested, but
! they are saving about 25, 900 feet log run,
| per day.
"The factor Of safety from fire is well
| provided in the new system of water
works. Throughout the mill and sur
rounding the big yard of lumber is a
chain of five hydrants with pressure of
seventy-five pounds, ready for instant
and immediate use.
"All through and around the mill is a
big gGng of hustling men, who don't get
much time to swap stories or plug tobac-
co. 1t is rush, rush, right along. But
over in the office all is quite and comfort
able, with little evidences of the hive of
industry stones throw away. MIR. N.
| p. Wheeler, the tireless resident partner,
spends most of his time on the outside,
but can readily go into his private office
if you have business The office, how
ever, is really in charge of Geo. w. War
den, who not only looks after w. Il D. IS
business, but is also Superintendent of
the Hickory Valley r. Il. In his work
he is assisted by Gus b. Evans, a Tidi-
QUITE boy. The pair make a great team
with seemingly no limit to their capacity
to keep from under the load of business.
And the way they do it is in the system
of work perfected and carried out.
"a great many improvements in the
vicinity of the mill have been made and
are under way. New houses have been
built, water works and fire protection
afforded, and many other improvements
added. Just now a name for the thriv-
ing burg is being discussed, Stowtown
not seeming to meet the requirements.
| But a name it should have. But what?
"As all know it is just pleasant drive
from Tdioute, and Mr.. Wheeler or the
"boys," busy as he and they are, will
find time to escort you through the mill
in which they find so much laudable
p.ide. And it certainly will repay a
| visit.
"a new steel bridge across the river at
| West Hickory is this summer to replace
the present worn out wood bridge, and
bridge builders are now at work on the
| specifications and estimates"