The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1902-11-06
NUMBERING IN NEW YORK.

NUMBERING IN NEW YORK.
The bureau of forestry of the United
States department of agriculture has
issued history of the lumber industry
in the state Of New York, written by
William F. Fox, superintendent of for
ests of that state. The bulletin is of
much interest as chronicling the his
tory of numbering in that state, which
was essentially a white pine state in
its early history, and much of the state
was covered with a dense growth of
this pine that was 'as clear as hounds
TOOTH" In Delaware county pine
tree was cut years ago that measured
247 feet after it was cut, and trees that
would measure 247 feet in height and
seven feet through were very common.
In 1923 the first sawmill was erected by
the Dutch West India Co. at New Am
sterdam. The machinery was brought
from Holland, as the English had none
and depended upon the Dutch for their
finished lumber product. In England
there were none but common hand
sawyers. Jacob JAMS Fodder built the
first sawmill ever built at Albany which
place became a great lumber center
and in 1872 there were forty-three
wholesale dealers at that place and
they handled in that year $50, 1000, 900
feet of lumber, the business for the
year amounting to S15,000,00O. They
employed 1900 men. The lumber in
dustry of the state reached its maxi
mum development in 1865 at which
| time there were nearly 1000 sawmills
scattered throughout the state. Most
of the early sawmills built in the state
we're used both as sawmills and grist
mills. Log driving did not commence
in the state until 1913, and in 1878 the
legislature declared Genesee river a
public highway for rafting timber or
lumber. The first railroad built for
hauling logs was constructed in Steu-
ben county in 1852 and the locomotive
was called "Bull of the Woods" In
the early days of numbering in the
state a man who would go in the for
ests and put up mill was benefactor
and generally got all the timber he
wanted. Henry Townsend built mill
at Oyster Bay in 1878, and for doing
this the town granted to his heirs for
ever the right to cut and use timber
from any. part of the town that he
should choose; also the right to sell
such timber either in the town or out
of it.
Most of the logging industry in the
state is now confined to the northern
part of the state, and the wood pulp
industry has during late years placed
new phase on the Lumber market.
Spruce stumpage has risen in value so
rapidly that sawmill men refuse to paw
the price demanded for standing tim
Der, and hemlock and cheap pine is
taking the place of spruce in conse-
quence. The forests of northern New
York are now being conserved by for
estry laws and skilled foresters deter.
mine the merchantable timber and
preserve the young and immature
stock. No trees whatever are permitted
to be cut on steep side hills or where a
cutting might result in windfalls, soil
erosion or denudation. Intelligent
working plans are made for the cutting
OF the timber, and Mr.. Fox says that
S'profting by the lessons of the past
and encouraged by the success of the
present, the great lumber industry of
the state enters upon another century
of its existence with every promise
that it viii continue to. add it's full.
share, to- the honor and prosperity of
the commonwealth" IN
DAVID BENNETT HILL after silence
lOf ten wears. made a. sneech at tha