The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1902-05-18
Much Development Of the State
Due to the L athrop-Hatten Lntn-
Der CO.-Mr. LathrOp Tells Of
Incidents in Establishing
the Camps Hatten a
Prominent Westerner.

and winter. Much of 1t also grows under
the trees which have been left by the
cutting gangs. The one question of water
though, is one of the best attractions Of
fered to the stock raiser, who in the
west oftentimes has to drive his cattle
miles and miles to river or creek where
they could qusnch their thirst.
The protection the weeds give the grass
and the climate are other great attrac-
tions. Out west cattle ane often forced
from pasture lands on account of the
droughts which kill the grass as well
as dry the branches during the summer.
In winter the SHOWS nearly always drive
them to the shelters for weeks and often
months at fine. Here they will be al
lowed to run out in the lands nearly all
of the winter and all of the summer.
The fact that a part of the lands are
now in cultivation and lie along streams
m AXE them very valuable ALSO Much of
the acreage will therefore be planted in
sorghum to be used as winter food Much
grass of various kinds will also be plant
ed over the lands and hay made for the
winter food. Some corn will also be
planted and given for winter food.
The lease on the farm lands will begin
October l. 1t is for three years with
privilege of purchase If it proves salts
factory after that time; and the expert
ences show that stock raising can be
done on a scale which will give proper
returns. Both Mr.. Lathrop and Mr.. Ran
dali are impressed with the possibilities
of this line, and 1t might be safely said
| that the future holds out bright pros
| poets for cattle raising in this portion of
| the country.
Among the creeks which run through
the lands that are of some size are KEEL
| Iey's Creek, Wolf Creek, and Chambers
| Creek All are of such size as to AFFORD
water for the entire stock farm at all
times during the year. The work OF
stocking the farm will begin October l,
| when Mr. Randall will move south ana
bring with him some experienced cattle
men to assist in the work.
| Mill Is at Riverside.
The mill of the company at Riverside
was first bought from Mr.. ]. Morgan
Smith, or through his interests fourteen
wears ago by the Lathrop-Hatten Com
pany. At that time there were at least
ten mills of the same size within
radius of ten miles. In talking OF the OLD
times Mr.. Lathrop said all he had to do
was to get oalt of sight of his mill to
hear the whistles of various other mills
Then most of the timber was brought
from UP the river and from nearby
woods No thought was ever entertained
by natives that the com pa,py would be
hauling logs seventeen or twenty miles
for the saws by the river side. But they
could not figure the foresight of the
capitalists who were at the head of the
company which was moving things along
in a manner not previously attempted.
working and spreading out over the ter
ritory, taking up logs here and there I'M
til it had grown to be the largest of all
mills of the territory thereabout. One af-
ter another the mills of the surround
ing country closed down from the lack of
woods or from some other cause until
| t,oi1l left
in the territory. Through all manner of
hardships and financial troubles the
company has advanced and broadened
and builded until it is now possibly the
largest in the state or rather this part of
the state.
The first work on the railway line
which stretches through the twelve miles
of territory was begun three years ago.
From a beginning of a few miles the
road was pushed on and on; and is now
being pushed still further on. 1t will be
continued In the future until all of the
20 900 acres of woodland is cut and the
logs hauled and sawed into lumber.
| Maybe twenty years from now soine one
else will haul along the same line other
stretches of railroad and cut over the
same ground now being gone over by
this company. 1t will be possible, for
the track of each spur from the main
line is torn up and used in building
extensions as each becomes of no value.
Among the men who were at Inc mill
when 1t was bought by Mr.. Lathrop and
his partners was Mr.. John T. Truss, an
employee in the fire department. That was
fourteen years ago, and at the time this
man had been with the mill for several
wears. The other day he was still there
and working just as he was the first
day Mr.. Lathrop visited the mill. He is
now gray haired and has long gray beard,
but he still has energy and skill-the
two qualities which make man valuable
at a saw mill He is 81 years of age, and
saws he is good for many more years of
work. In talking of the old times he
said:
Old Employe Talks.
| srwhen Mr.. Lathrop first came here and