The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-11-26

larger. and the lumber yards Of the
present far more extensive than TWEEN
ty-hVe years ago. The difference is
that in 1878 the mills were in the
center of the city; and further, that
all other Industries have grown out Of
proportion to the lumber business.
| But lumber saving has by no means
stood STILL The year 1878 saw 1870
millions Of feet produced at Mime
apolis, while the average of late years
has been about 500 million feet.
In 1878 old methods prevailed in
the mills. AS has been said, nearly
| all the sawnflls- we're operated by
water power. The old-fashioned gang
saws were almost exclusively used.
Perhaps the younger lumbermen of
to-day would not recognize one Of
these sawmill outfits as something
commercial scale. But practically
every foot of lumber cut In Mime
| apolis In 1878 was sawed in this way.
! For, the information Of the laynan
1t may be explained that the gang
saws were sets Of straight saws set
In massive frames which moved up
and down between still more massive
t1mbers. The logs were forced against
these saws and cut into board thick
ness at one trip. But, altho- log had
| to pass thru the saws but once Except
for squaring the edges Of the boards),
the, movement was SO slow as to make
the process a very. expensive one
compared with the rapid band saws
Of to-day. Circular saws were used
to some. extent in 1878. Both gang
and circular saws were wasteful of
material; but logs were SO cheap and
plentiful in those days that the waste
was little considered. The loggers
would not touch small timber in the
early years. Logs which are now care
fully sawed with thin blades and used
up to the last splinter, were in those
days rejected in the woods as not
worth cutting and driving to the
mills; while the big ones were out
up with thick saws and the slabs and
! sawdust thrown into the river.
! AS there was no room at the mills
at the falls to pile the lumber sawed,
lit was necessary to haul it by team
to the lumber yards at a greater or
less distance. Naturally the yards
were located as near the mills as room
could be found at a reasonable price.
The consequence was that in 1878
lumber was piled on vacant property
in all parts Of the city, and no one
thought of placing any restrictions
upon this-the prominent industry of
the place. About this time there was
a lumber yard at the corner Of Third
street and Nicollet avenue. There
were several large wholesale yards
cumscribed by the fire limits AS
practically every foot of lumber man
ufactured had to be hauled from mill
to yard, the streets Of the city were
busy during the season with teams
and great loads Of new sawed and
moist and fragrant pine boards.
OF all the lumber firms in business
der the same name. This is McMul-
len & Co. A. E. and w. H. McMul-
len, partners in the firm in 1878, are
the members Of the present partner
ship. This firm also operates a mill
at substantially the same spot as In
only one still working at the falls
Another firm, j. w. Day & Co., Ii
practically the same as Leonard Day
& Sons Of 1873 and Eastman, Bovey
& Co. Of 1873, Is now Bovey-DeLaittre
Lumber company. Merriman, Bar
rows & Co; is still in business as the
observation-disclosures company, with
some changes in ownership.
The full list Of mill owners and
lumber dealers in 1873 Is as follows:
Baker, w. c.. River, foot Fifth ave-
: nue. N.
! Bennett. H. A., Tenth avenue N
= corner First.
! Butler, L. estate, River, between
!" Third and Fourth avenues N.
: Camp & Walker, First avenue n
corner River.
Clark, F. P, Main. corner Fourth
avenue N.
Clarke & Mcclure, Fifth, between
Second and Third avenues N. (E. d.
: Cole & Hammond. foot Sixth ave.
3 nue. 8.
: Day, L. & Sons. Third. corner Sixth
i avenue S.
Y L.. &. ,A1
y Third avenue S.
s Eastman, Bovey & Co., Second, cor
r ner Eleventh avenue S.
Farnham & Lovejoy. First avenu,
q N. corner Third &c. Do