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Logging Railroad Era of Lumbering in Pennsylvania Volume 1 by Taber Signed HC
The Logging Railroad Era of Lumbering in Pennsylvania Volume 1 by Taber Hard Cover A history of the Lumber, Chemical Wood and tanning Companies which used railroads in Pennsylvania
SIGNED by Thomas T Taber Jr. NOTICE the spotting on that page. Pages 1-576
Pitch Pine & Prop Timber
Wild Catting on the Mountain
Ghost Lumber Towns of Central PA
Sunset Along the Susquehanna
The Goodyears
"Pitch Pine and Prop Timber," aptly describes a primary source and ultimate use of a vast amount of timber harvested from the forested mountainsides of Pennsylvania.
Considered unsuitable for manufacture into lumber, the species of hard pines commonly referred to as pitch pine, jack pine and the smaller sizes of yellow pine, generally remained uncut after the harvesting of the valuable white pine. However, these hard pines with their strength and durability proved highly useful as props in the coal mines of Pennsylvania. As the supply of these hard pines decreased, they were eventually replaced by the use of unmarketable hardwoods.
Prop timber and lumber are a necessity for subsurface mining operations. In the beginning, these supplies were limited from sources close at hand and were soon exhausted. This brought into being, companies whose sole purpose was to supply these materials to the mines. It was inevitable that these companies found the railroad would serve their purpose.
In the beginning, the mine operators organized lumber companies to obtain sufficient timber for their mines. One was Ario Pardee from the Hazleton area. Gradually, the mine operators became dependent upon independent firms or individuals to supply their timber needs.
This booklet will examine railroad logging operations in the South-Central section of the state, whose major portion of revenue was obtained from hauling prop timber. However, it must be stated that the procurement of prop timber was not the exclusive monopoly of these lumbermen. Many large lumber companies, as well as individuals, disposed to the coal mines their timber that was unsuitable for manufacturing into lumber.
Many of the lumber companies in this geographical area evolved from the activities of the Shamokin Lumber Company and Monroe H. Kulp, a part owner. Operators were frequently his business associates. and in several instances, were related. A comprehensive study of all logging railroad operations within this geographical area shall be included.
In addition to accounts published in contemporary newspapers and trade journals, further information was gained from interviews of the employees; persons associated with these operations and their descendents. In the absence of primary sources, many pieces of informa
tion had to be gained from these interviews, and although checked with others as far as possible, the impressions or memories may differ. it would be difficult to list all the many individuals and agencies contacted in collecting information for this booklet, however, these people gave exceptional assistance; Reverend Darlington R. Kulp, Mrs. Raymond Walters, Bernhard Wolseley-Wilmsen for his permission to use the photographs belonging to the Estate of Katharine McConnell, W. Irvine Wiest, Chester C. Ricewick, Walter G. Reed, Sr., Elwood M. Zartman, Joseph Facer, James R. Dunn, George and William Long, William G. Edwards, Rufus Confer, Alexander B. Vincent, John Steiger, James Reichley, the family of Murry Romig, C. P. "Sammy" Wray, Richard H. Steinmetz, Mont Chamberlain, Roy Young and the many, many others who gave freely of their time and interest.
My special thanks to Mr. George M. Hart in reading the manuscript and to the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. My appreciation to John McPheron for his assistance in preparing the maps.
The format of this booklet, number one of a series concerning the logging railroads of the State of Pennsylvania, will be consistant throughout the thirteen booklets. Chapter numbers within the individual booklet will be preceded by the booklet number. All text pages shall have multiple digit numbering, of which the last two shall represent the page number within that particular book. These are preceded by the appropriate booklet number within the series. For example, page number 1135 will be the thirty fifth page of book number eleven. The title, introductory, and roster pages shall be unnumbered. Where practical, all maps will be drawn from the 15 minute series of Geological Survey maps published by the United States Department of the Interior.
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