The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1904-03-23
ROCKY BLUFF lvMsER co.


A lumber BUSINESS Of Considerable Mag
nitude aud That is Steadily
Growing larger.
Rocky Bluff, Sumter P. O.,
March l6.-Four miles north of Sum
ter on the Gibson Branch Of the At
lantic Coast Line Railway tidy
village is growing. There are q
dozen white families there now, and
the cottages Tor the coiored folks are
not shacks, but comfortable we'll
lighted houses with the sun shining
IN windows and open doors, artesian
wells are flowing. and birds are car
rolling In the tall trees, and the
grass grows green.
The hand at the village is unduiat-
ing, granting natural drainage-and
little brooks and springs feed treans
OF parity which ripple on their way
TO the big swamp, Bream, redhorse
and many other fish are now giving
good sport and in the woods coon
and 'possum give darky and dog de-
Eght, while back In the swamp she
alligators sound their gutterai bark.
Three years ego where The Rocky
Bluff Lumber Company have their
mills and village, were tall forestry
and undegrowth and solitude. Now
there is q comeIy little village with
70 cottages and garden plats-busy
saw and planning mills, Office and store,
and aschool house viii adorn the scene.
The saw mill is being changed from
"a single TO . double decker, but Is
running right along with circular
saw, edgefs, etc, propelled by so b.
d. engine and two 60 b. p. boilers
maximum ousrsp 5000 feet OF l1m-
ber per day. The planning mill has 50
b. Q. engine ard two boilers, one 10
and one 40 b. p. respectively, and the
two patent dry kiins have drying ca
pacity Of 8,0oe feet per day. Lath and
single mills win be added soon.
The company has several miles or
iron rails penetrating the woods from
the mills which aresby the. main track
of the A.sC. Il, and a new locomotive
will be added to the rolling stock OF
the enterprise.
While themills are running busily all
the time, closing down only for Sun-
day, crews Of men are busy loading
during day time, and Ia the woods
men work with q, will.
Dressed lumber is shipped north,
with Boston as g big customer, and it
IS gratifying 10 sSate tdat first order
20 the Rocky Bluff Lumher Company
has Invariably been followed by others.
They have now between Eve and six
Years cus and visit 60 the woods
showed magnificent timber. A number
OF ssumps showed i've feet diameter,
ssEd one gians standing. is over SIX
feet, and the manager, James H. Scar
boguogh,, Is the wooduan who will
spare that tres That some Of the
pines are beauties can be inferred from
the fact Shat from 90 to So fees have
been taken fsom single trees
The company has now 805men On the
pay roll. and twenty mules get all
they need.
The mill people are healthy, the
agtesian wells are thoroughly appre-
ciated, and every Gaze is taken for the
comfort Of man and beast.
It's speciaHy Woythy OF note that
the Rocky Bauf Lumber Company,
head Office, Sumfer-own a grand
variety of timber. They have long
Leaf ana short ieaf yellow pine, white
ea4k {no betser), popular and cypress
and adjacent is gum sufHceiut to keep
mills going for years.
The company as incorporated by
local capital. President 81. Z. Scar
borough, who is also local superintend-
sens Of the Sumter Water Works for
the last seven years, is South Caro-
isnian, born in an adjoining county.
He was for many years prominent as
cotton buyer, and been a progressive
and highly esteemed citizen of Sumter
since 1894. There are half a dozen
brothers Of the Sesrboroughs, and they
are all stalwarts, physically, and
broadguaged commercially. Vice
President o. D. Hsrvin is in cypress
timber operations, is also a planter
residing near Pinewood, and is a go
ahead business man.
Manager of mills, and all pertaining
thereto, James II. Scarborough is
also native son Of the Sunny South,
and is an expert in timber estimating,
and possess all the requisites of the mill
manager-a clear head, quick eye,
good heart and a. very retentive
memory. He also mas inventive genius
and his steam skidder proves it with
light draught and effective power.
Judge r. @. sPardy, stockholder in
the Rocky Bluff Lnmoer Company, is
known over and far beyond the Stete,
In his profession.
4. W. Scarborough, as knight of the
Woods is a great success, combining
continued energy and happy disposi-
tion.
The accountant at the mills, and
.paymaster is w.. II. Plowden, who was
born near Manning, in Clarendon
comfy. For ten.years he was~railway
agent at Lanes, Sc aud thereby,
probably. gained bis correct, rapid
and methodical ways of doing busi-
ness. Since 1892. he has held positions
Of clerical responsibility with lumber
companies. of note.
Z. r. Jennings, Esq !. is the mer-
camille nnanagers aud is popularity
known over ethis,~bis native county.