The leader., 1900-07-25
Big Home ENTERPRISE.
Pearl River Lumber Mills as
Viewed by a Leader Reporter.
Something That all Brool>haycu-
ties Should See.

1t is doubtful if majority of our
residents have ever visited the plant
of the Pearl River Lumber Compapv
Ii not, they should do so by all means:
and, our word for it, they will be fully
repaid for their trouble, especially if
they witness the running of the gigau-
tic and wonderful engines, one of 800
horse power, the other of 300, II is
inspiring and animatiug to note the
metamorphosis produced in a few mo
ments on the rough pine log. From
the msment it sedately pursues its
way from the pond, up the log chain,
gets its bunch into position from the
persistent "nigger," that seems thing
OF life with wonderful vim and energy,
rolls into position before the band
saws, is stripped by the latter of
bark, then squared and measured, and
comes out in boards of certain dimen-
sions, or in beautiful, immense timber
that looks like stone as it issues from
the "sizer" without an indentation or
scratch to mar it, ones interest is fas-
cinated and unclaimed 1t takes less
time to do all this than it consumes in
the telling
The timber never tarries after gaining
access to the log chain. until it is
dressed" and sin fine shape" for its
trip on the cars or prepared for
the drying kiln: and indeed
as it passes from its first passage way
to the rollers and even changes its
route at right angles, seemingly of it's
own free will, one intuitively feels it is
a thing of life. There are human hands
at every turn, however, to watch or
measure, or detect the "culls' and to
cast away the refuse that is of no service
at all, and that is borne off by the
slab conveyer to be burned. The saw
dust conveyer is especially interesting,
and the immense pipe blows this pro
duct of the wonderful saws into a spa
cious receiver where it is afterward
utilized for fuel in the furnaces that
made us think of sheol and the devil
as we passed through their heated
apartment and looked into the opened
door of the raging, flaming, fiery fur
mace that must have been seven times
hot.
The immense dry kiln which holds
millions of feet of lumber is admir-
| ably stacked with an abundance of the
rough material, preparing for the
machines in the vast eXpanse of the
"planer" where the ceiling, flooring,
moulding, etc, are made as if by
magic. The managers of the mills
are due vote of thanks for the
elevated platforms where visitors may
take position and plainly view the en-
tire progress of events as relates to
the saving and finishing of the finest
lumber in this country. Blocks of
wood are to be seen piled many feet
high awaiting their turn to be made
into shingles, and everywhere
throughout the plant there is much to
interest the enquiring mind.
The large hotel. a two story frame
building, is completed. except for
paint; and quite an imposing structure
that is nearing completion will be used
for store. These two enterprises will
add greatly to the comfort and con
venience of the hundreds of mill hands.
We noted with qualification that
several of our BI ookhaven youths who
might be content with doing nothing"
and still have a good living from rela
tives, were engaged at the mill Among
these were Charles Sherman, Edwin
Thurber Harvey Johnson, Tom Me
Grath and others who hove lately NOV
ed among us. 1t is greatly to the
honest employment to holding up the
lamp posts. IA few of which remain or
to eating pinders on the street corners.
1t strikes us that stovewood in
dustry might be run in connection
with the mill There is much refuse
lumber burnt to get it out of the way,
that might be utilized for the stove
and to build up business for some
one inclined to it.
! If you haven't visited the Pearl River
Lumber Mills, you may rest assure d
you have missed fine object lesson
in the lumber industry of today.
| Troubles.